Jack-bean

Canavalia napaliensis H.St.John

Canavalia napaliensis is a species of flowering plant in the Fabaceae family, commonly known as Jack-bean. Endemic to Hawaii, it was once more widespread but is now restricted to northwestern Kauaʻi. It was previously found in Oʻahu's Mākaha Valley and is known in Hawaiian as ʻāwikiwiki.

Description

Canavalia napaliensis is a member of the legume family Fabaceae and is native to the Hawaiian Islands. Once more widely distributed across the archipelago, it is now limited to northwestern Kauaʻi. The species was historically found in Oʻahu's Mākaha Valley, from which it derives its common name, Mākaha Valley Jack-bean. Along with other Hawaiian Canavalia species, it is referred to as ʻāwikiwiki in the local language. The species was first described in 1970 by H. St. John and is part of the global distribution of the genus Canavalia.