Rice Bean: Thai Department of Agriculture
(Vigna umbellata)

Vigna umbellata is a nitrogen-fixing perennial legume often grown as an annual. Depending on the variety, V. umbellata presents as vining, bush, or semi-erect forms, reaching heights of 30-200 cm. Produces 7.5-12.5 cm long pods. V. umbellata seeds vary in color from green-yellow to red to black.

A pulse crop, V. umbellata is an important food source for many parts of India and Southeast Asia. Leaves, flowers, tender shoots, immature pods, and seeds are all edible and utilized in various preparations, similar to other pulses. Dried seeds are boiled and eaten in soups, with rice, or as a rice substitute, or ground into flour. A multipurpose crop, V. umbellata is also a viable fodder species (provided as fresh or dried forage) and green manure cover crop.

Local Thai variety; black seed.