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The winged bean (''Psophocarpus tetragonolobus''), also known as the Goa bean, four-angled bean, four-cornered bean, Manila bean, Mauritius bean, is a tropical legume plant native to New Guinea. It grows abundantly in hot, humid equatorial countries, from the Philippines and Indonesia to India, Burma, Malaysia , Thailand and Sri Lanka. It is widely known, yet grown on a small scale in Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea. Winged bean is well-recognized by farmers and consumers in the Asian region for its variety of uses and disease tolerance. Winged bean is nutrient-rich, and all parts of the plant are edible. Leaves can be eaten like spinach, flowers can be used in salads, tubers can be eaten raw or cooked, seeds can be used in similar ways as the soybean. The winged bean is an underutilized species but has the potential to become a major multi-use food crop in the tropics of Asia, Africa and Latin America.〔 The winged bean is a species that belongs to the genus Psophocarpus, a genus of 6-9 varying species.〔 Species in the Psophocarpus genus are perennial herbs grown as annuals. Species in the Psophocarpus species are capable of climbing by twining their stems around a support. Species in the Psophocarpus genus have tuberous roots and pods with wings.〔National Research Council (U.S.). (1975). ''(Underexploited Tropical Plants with Promising Economic Value )''. 2nd Edition. U.S. National Academies.〕 ==Appearance== The winged bean plant grows as a vine with climbing stems and leaves, 3–4 m in height. It is an herbaceous perennial, but can be grown as an annual. It is generally taller and notably larger than the Common bean. The bean pod is typically 15–22 cm (6–9 in) long and has four wings with frilly edges running lengthwise. The skin is waxy and the flesh partially translucent in the young pods. When the pod is fully ripe, it turns an ash-brown color and splits open to release the seeds. The large flower is a pale blue. The beans themselves are similar to soybeans in both use and nutritional content (being 29.8% to 39% protein). There is abundant variation in the appearance of winged bean. The shape of its leaves ranges from ovate, deltoid, ovate-lanceolate, lanceolate and long lanceolate.〔 The leaves of winged bean also vary in colour appearing as different shades of green. Stem colour is commonly green, but can vary from shades of green to shades of purple. Pod shape is most commonly rectangular, but can also appear flat. Pod colour may also vary from shades of cream, green, pink or purple. The exterior surface of the pod also varies in texture. Pods can appear smooth or rough depending on genotype. Seed shape is often round, but oval and rectangular seeds are also found. Seed colour changes based on environmental factors and storage conditions.〔 Seeds may appear white, cream, brown or dark tan in appearance. The shape of winged bean tuberous roots also show variation 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Winged bean」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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