hyacinth bean

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• bonavist-bean
• hyacinth-bean
• lablab-bean
• Hyacinth Bean

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Dolichos purpureus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Fabales and falls under the family Fabaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Lablab.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning multiple continents and regions. In Southeastern Europe, it can be found growing in Italy and the island of Sicilia. Its range extends further into Eastern Europe, where it is documented in Ukraine. Moving toward North Africa, the species is also present in Tunisia. Finally, its distribution reaches the Macaronesia region, specifically within the Canary Islands.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lablab purpureus is characterized by its significant adaptability to varied landscapes, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to an elevation of 2130 m AMSL. It thrives predominantly in anthropogenic habitats (Área Antrópica), where it frequently colonizes environments modified by human activity, such as agricultural fields, disturbed soils, and cultivated lands. This ability to inhabit human-impacted zones, combined with its wide elevational tolerance, allows the species to establish itself across diverse topographical and climatic conditions within its range.

Elevational range max:

2130 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Genetics

The genetics of Lablab purpureus are characterized by a degree of chromosomal variation and a specific polyploidy level. The species exhibits a flexible chromosome number, with documented counts of 20, 22, and 24, suggesting a complex karyotype that may influence its adaptability and phenotypic diversity. Despite this variation in chromosome number, the plant typically functions at a diploid ploidy level (2), which serves as the fundamental genomic basis for its reproductive and evolutionary processes.

Chromosome number :

20, 22, 24

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Lablab purpureus is characterized by its versatile growth habits, primarily functioning as a perennial species, though its lifecycle can be highly variable and may manifest as an annual or biennial depending on environmental conditions and management practices. In terms of its structural life form, the plant is classified as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennating buds are located at or just below the soil surface, allowing it to persist through unfavorable seasons. This growth strategy enables the plant to establish a robust presence in its habitat, utilizing its climbing or trailing stems to exploit available space while maintaining a resilient foundational structure near the ground level.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lablab purpureus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, specifically functioning as an obligatory climbing vine. As a terrestrial plant and an independent species, it does not act as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a scandent shoot orientation, allowing it to climb with shoot lengths that can reach a maximum of 300 cm. In terms of vertical stature, the plant height is highly variable, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 5 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 2.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

vine

Climber :

obligatory

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

5 m

Plant height mean:

2.1 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Shoot length max:

300 cm

Shoot orientation :

scandent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lablab purpureus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a highly efficient symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, functioning as a nitrogen fixer to enhance soil fertility. Its vegetative structure features an alternate leaf arrangement, with leaves that are non-succulent in nature. The foliage displays an elliptic leaf form, with dimensions varying from a minimum leaf length of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 15 cm, and a width ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 14 cm.

Leaf arrangement :

alternate

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf width max:

14 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lablab purpureus is characterized by a flowering period that typically begins in May and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable. The plant produces violet-colored flowers arranged in a raceme inflorescence, which measures between 0.04 m and 0.5 m in length. The pollination process is biotic, specifically driven by an insect pollination syndrome. Fertilization is supported by the presence of self-fertilization capabilities. Following successful pollination, the plant develops green fruit in the form of a pod. These pods are dehiscence-type fruits, varying in size with a length between 5 cm and 14 cm and a width ranging from 1 cm to 5 cm. Each fruit typically contains a seed count of 1 to 10. The seeds themselves exhibit diverse dimensions, with lengths ranging from 9 mm to 13 mm and widths from 4 mm to 11 mm. Regarding seed mass, the individual seeds have a mean mass of approximately 0.2050664285 g, with values ranging from a minimum of 0.10547 g to a maximum of 0.3163 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flower colour :

violet

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit colour :

green

Fruit length max:

14 cm

Fruit length min:

5 cm

Fruit type :

pod

Fruit width max:

5 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Inflorescence :

raceme

Inflorescence length max:

0.5 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.04 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

13 mm

Seed length min:

9 mm

Seed mass max:

0.3163 g

Seed mass mean:

0.2050664285 g

Seed mass min:

0.10547 g

Seed width max:

11 mm

Seed width min:

4 mm

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lablab purpureus has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, seed.

Fruit

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Seed

1. Scientific reports

Chemicals

Lablab purpureus has 60 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CALCIUM, IRON, PHOSPHORUS, leucine, methionine.

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

IRON

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

PHOSPHORUS

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of food sciences and nutrition

leucine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

methionine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

threonine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant foods for human nutrition (Dordrecht, Netherlands)

2'-Hydroxygenistein

1. Dr. Duke

ARSENIC

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Lablab purpureus has 359 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antiviral, Hepatoprotective, Hypoglycemic, Hypolipidemic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Scientific reports

Antiviral

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypoglycemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypolipidemic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Adjuvant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Lablab purpureus has 8 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include amoebiasis, diarrhea, disease, dracunculiasis, lung cancers.

Amoebiasis

1. Parasitology research

Diarrhea

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Disease

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Dracunculiasis

1. Parasitology research

Lung cancers

1. Scientific reports

Malaria

1. Parasitology research

Malnourishment

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Metabolic diseases

1. Journal of the science of food and agriculture

Preparations

Lablab purpureus has 4 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude methanolic extract of L. purpureus seeds, hay, leaf fractions, stem fractions.

Crude methanolic extract of l. purpureus seeds

1. Scientific reports

Hay

1. Tropical animal health and production

Leaf fractions

1. The British journal of nutrition

Stem fractions

1. The British journal of nutrition