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Useful Tropical Plants

Phaseolus maculatus

Scheele

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Phaseolus metcalfei Wooton & Standl.

Phaseolus ovatifolius Piper

Phaseolus retusus Moench

Phaseolus ritensis M.E.Jones

Common Name: Metcalfe Bean

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General Information

Phaseolus maculatus is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant growing from a fleshy, woody, globose tuber that can be 20cm or more in diameter. The twining stems can be up to 5 metres tall, scrambling over the ground and climbing into nearby vegetation for support[
1555
Title
Taxonomy, Distribution, and Ecology of the Genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and
Publication
SIda, Botanical Mlscellany, No 23
Author
Freytag G.F. & Debouck D.G.
Website
http://www.brit.org/sida
Publisher
Botanical Researeh Institute of Texas
Year
2002
ISBN
1-889878-11-1
Description
An excellent, detailed study of the genus Phaseolus, it has been made available on-line as an open access document.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Known Hazards

We have seen no specific reports for this species, but the mature seed of most, if not all, members of this genus contain various anti-nutritional factors. Soaking the seeds, discarding the water and then boiling them and discarding the water will remove these toxins and render the seeds safe and nutritious[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Botanical References

1555
Title
Taxonomy, Distribution, and Ecology of the Genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and
Publication
SIda, Botanical Mlscellany, No 23
Author
Freytag G.F. & Debouck D.G.
Website
http://www.brit.org/sida
Publisher
Botanical Researeh Institute of Texas
Year
2002
ISBN
1-889878-11-1
Description
An excellent, detailed study of the genus Phaseolus, it has been made available on-line as an open access document.

Range

Southwestern N. America - Arizona, New Mexico, Texas to southern Mexico

Habitat

Along streams and on grassy slopes in open oak woodland, pine forests and in grassland[
1555
Title
Taxonomy, Distribution, and Ecology of the Genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and
Publication
SIda, Botanical Mlscellany, No 23
Author
Freytag G.F. & Debouck D.G.
Website
http://www.brit.org/sida
Publisher
Botanical Researeh Institute of Texas
Year
2002
ISBN
1-889878-11-1
Description
An excellent, detailed study of the genus Phaseolus, it has been made available on-line as an open access document.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
HabitPerennial Climber
Height4.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Phaseolus maculatus is native to semi-arid regions in warm temperate through the subtropical to tropical regions of southwestern N. America.
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil.
This species has confusing reports regarding nitrogen fixation. The subspecies maculatus has been shown not to have a symbiotic relationship. However, subspecies ritensis does have this relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[
755
Title
Nodulation Plants in GRIN Taxonomy
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.ars-grin.gov/~sbmljw/cgi-bin/taxnodul.pl?language=en
Publisher
United States Department of Agriculture
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An online database listing plants that have either positive or negative reports on root and stem nodulation with nitrogen-fixing bacteria.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - cooked[
155
Title
Flowers of the Southwest Mountains.
Publication
 
Author
Arnberger. L. P.
Publisher
Southwestern Monuments Ass.
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
A lovely little pocket guide to wild plants in the southern Rockies of America.
]. Toasted[
1438
Title
Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
Publication
 
Author
Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
Publisher
 
Year
2014
ISBN
 
Description
A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
]. The seedpod is 30 - 74mm long, 10 - 15mm wide, containing variously coloured, spherical seeds 7 - 13mm in diameter[
1555
Title
Taxonomy, Distribution, and Ecology of the Genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and
Publication
SIda, Botanical Mlscellany, No 23
Author
Freytag G.F. & Debouck D.G.
Website
http://www.brit.org/sida
Publisher
Botanical Researeh Institute of Texas
Year
2002
ISBN
1-889878-11-1
Description
An excellent, detailed study of the genus Phaseolus, it has been made available on-line as an open access document.
].

Young seedpods - cooked[
1555
Title
Taxonomy, Distribution, and Ecology of the Genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and
Publication
SIda, Botanical Mlscellany, No 23
Author
Freytag G.F. & Debouck D.G.
Website
http://www.brit.org/sida
Publisher
Botanical Researeh Institute of Texas
Year
2002
ISBN
1-889878-11-1
Description
An excellent, detailed study of the genus Phaseolus, it has been made available on-line as an open access document.
].

Thc root of subspecies ritensis is reportedly used as a fermentíng agent in making an alcoholic beverage called 'batari'[
1555
Title
Taxonomy, Distribution, and Ecology of the Genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and
Publication
SIda, Botanical Mlscellany, No 23
Author
Freytag G.F. & Debouck D.G.
Website
http://www.brit.org/sida
Publisher
Botanical Researeh Institute of Texas
Year
2002
ISBN
1-889878-11-1
Description
An excellent, detailed study of the genus Phaseolus, it has been made available on-line as an open access document.
].

Medicinal

The fleshy root is used to prepare a purgative[
1555
Title
Taxonomy, Distribution, and Ecology of the Genus Phaseolus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) in North America, Mexico and
Publication
SIda, Botanical Mlscellany, No 23
Author
Freytag G.F. & Debouck D.G.
Website
http://www.brit.org/sida
Publisher
Botanical Researeh Institute of Texas
Year
2002
ISBN
1-889878-11-1
Description
An excellent, detailed study of the genus Phaseolus, it has been made available on-line as an open access document.
].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-12-03. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Phaseolus+maculatus>

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