**Description and Taxonomy:**
– Winged bean is a vine plant with climbing stems up to 4m tall.
– Leaves are 15cm long, ranging from ovate to deltoid in shape.
– Bean pods are 15-22cm long, with waxy skin and various colors.
– Belongs to the genus Psophocarpus in the Fabaceae family.
– Psophocarpus species are perennial herbs grown as annuals.
– Plants have tuberous roots and pods with wings.
– They climb by twining their stems around a support.
**Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology:**
– Originated from New Guinea and grows in equatorial regions of South and Southeast Asia and tropical Africa.
– Found in open areas, old garden sites, and less in forests.
– Self-pollinating but can have variations due to mutations and occasional outcrossing.
– Seed soaking and scarification enhance germination rates.
– Plants flower 40 to 140 days after sowing.
– Tuber development and flower production vary by genotype and environmental factors.
– Requires support systems for vine growth and weed management in early stages.
**Nutritional Composition:**
– Contains 29.8% to 39% protein, similar to soybeans.
– Rich in Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2), Iron, Potassium, and dietary fiber.
– Nutrient-rich tuberous roots with high protein content and nutty flavor.
– Seeds are 35% protein and 18% fat, needing cooking to remove inhibitors.
– Nutrition per 100g includes 29.65g protein, 41.7g carbohydrates, and 16.3g fat.
**Cultivation and Uses:**
– Widely known in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea but cultivated on a small scale.
– Plants need support for vine growth and early weed management.
– The tuberous roots have a nutty flavor and are high in protein.
– Seeds are rich in protein and fat, requiring cooking before consumption.
– Can be a potential protein crop with various agricultural and culinary uses.
**References and Further Reading:**
– Various studies and publications on the winged bean’s cultivation, nutritional aspects, and potential uses.
– Reports on the plant’s protein content, cultivation techniques, and utilization in different industries.
– Information on the nutritional value, cooking methods, and benefits of incorporating winged beans in diets.
– Research on the cultivation, ecology, and taxonomy of Psophocarpus species.
The winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), also known as cigarillas, goa bean, four-angled bean, four-cornered bean, manila bean, princess bean, star bean, kamrangi bean, pea, dragon bean, is a tropical herbaceous legume plant.
| Winged bean | |
|---|---|
| |
| Winged bean flowers, leaves, and seeds | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Faboideae |
| Genus: | Psophocarpus |
| Species: | P. tetragonolobus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Psophocarpus tetragonolobus | |
Winged bean is widely recognised by consumers and farmers in South Asia and South East Asia for its variety of uses and disease resistance. Winged bean is nutrient-rich and all parts of the plant are edible. The leaves can be eaten like spinach, flowers can be used in salads, tubers can be eaten raw or cooked, and seeds can be used in similar ways as the soybean. The winged bean is an underutilised species but has the potential to become a major multi-use food crop in the tropics of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.