Edible : Root, Leaves, Pods, Seeds - drink, Vegetable,
A climbing or scrambling herb. It can grow to several metres long. The stems can be hairy. The leaflets are rounded. They are 3.5-9.5 cm long by 2.5-7.5 cm wide. The leaf stalks are 2-11 cm long. The flowering stems are erect. They can be 4-10 cm long. The flower is yellow but often green when young. The flowers are 1.2 cm long. The fruit are narrow pods which are slightly curved. They are 4-6 cm long and 8-9 mm wide. They are constricted between the seeds. There are 2-6 seeds. The seeds are brown or red. They are oblong and 6-7 mm long by 5-6 mm wide.
A tropical plant. It occurs just above high tide mark on sandy beaches. It occurs throughout the tropics. It is salt tolerant. It grows on atolls.
Common names : Dune bean, Marine vine, Beach bean, Beach cowpea, Erekogo, Fue sina, Kachang laut, Kodeppayam, Lau fue fue, Lima karal, Markinenjojo, Mekaral, Notched cowpea, Pe-dalet-yaing, Pudalangai, Taut-tul, Te kitoko,
Synonyms :
Phaseolus marinus Burman;
Phaseolus obovatus Gagnepain;
Calicysthus volubilis Endl.;
Scytalis anomala E. Meyer;
Scytalis retusa E. Meyer;
Vigna anomala Walp.;
Vigna lutea (Sw.) A. Gray;
Vigna retusa (E.Meyer) Walp.;