Item Tag: Psophocarpus

Psophocarpus TetragonolobusAlso known as: Winged Bean, Asparagus Pea, Four-Angled Bean, Goa Bean, Dragon Bean, Cigarillas, Princess BeanHere is a herbaceous legume vine that is gaining in popularity in North America but is widely distributed through the tropics and subtropics of South / SE Asia and India for its variety of uses and disease resistance.A climbing perennial with large pale blue flowers that produce 15-20 cm(6-8 in) winged pods at maturity. It can also be planted as an annual.The leaves, shoots, flowers, pods and seeds are all edible. The root tuber is white and firm and averages 20 percent protein. The tubers are eaten roasted or raw and have a pleasant, slightly nutty taste. Young pods, harvested while still tender and bendable, can be boiled and served like French beans or dipped in sauces and curries. The green seeds from both immature and mature pods are consumed, while ripe seeds can be roasted before eating. The nutritional composition of winged bean seeds is comparable to that of soybean with approximately 30 percent protein. Dried seeds are fermented to prepare a meat substitute called “tempeh” or processed to produce tofu. Protein-rich bean milk and flour are useful dietary treatments for those that are protein deprived. Flowers eaten steamed or fried have the color and consistency of mushrooms.Stems, leaves, and processed seeds can be used as fodder and cattle forage. It’s very beneficial for soil improvement as it is a nitrogen-fixing species. It also makes an effective cover crop, planting it uniform with the ground suppresses weed growth.Thrives in hot, wet climates, although a dry period is favorable to fertilization and the production of mature pods. Grows well under a variety of soil conditions except in high salinity environments.This offer is for 5 seeds. For complete transparency we include payment processing & Ebay fees in our shipping/handling cost.*DISCLAIMER*NO RETURNS/REFUNDS/REPLACEMENTS ON SEEDSMost specialty seeds we offer are NOT fast to germinate.Many take several weeks, months, and some even up towards a year depending on dormancy, region, season etc. It is important that the buyer understands that seeds are perishable products and seed germination can be adversely affected by such factors as mold/fungus, bugs, temperature, moisture content, light intensity, dormancy, care, contamination of planting media among many other reasons. These factors are totally out of The Plant Attraction’s control and are the buyer’s responsibility and risk. Germination recommendations are sent with each order and the buyer is free to research and use their own methods. Floating seeds do not always indicate that the seed is not viable. Many times it is a misconception because the seed does not have the density to sink in water. Accordingly, The Plant Attraction does not guarantee seeds to perform properly regardless of conditions or buyer’s methods or mistakes. Since 2006 we have been doing our best to hand sort and provide the freshest, cleanest harvest that is free of defects and bugs.