Sword beans are a climbing, herbaceous vine that can reach lengths of up to 10 meters under optimal conditions.

[3] The fruits are shaped as long, straight, slightly compressed pods, measuring 20-40 (up to 60) cm with a rough surface.

Each pod contains 8 to 16 seeds, which are oblong-ellipsoid, variable in color, ranging from red and red-brown to white or black.

Over time sword beans have been known by several names based on varying classifications (see list of synonymes below).

To be used as vegetable, the pods are harvested after 3 to 5 months of growth, when they are about 12.5 to 15 cm long, before the seeds swell and become hard.

[7] A major disease affecting sword beans is Anthracnose, which is caused by fungal pathogens of Colletotrichum species.

This is partly due to the presence of harmful factors such as haemagglutinis (concanavalin A), protease inhibitors, hydrocyanic acid, tannins, phytates and canavanine.

[13] Soaking overnight and boiling in excess water followed by decanting resulted in the greatest reduction in canavanine content (approx.

Young leaves, flowers, tender green pods and seeds are edible after cooking.

In Japan, the young, tender pods are processed into several kinds of pickles called “Fukujin-zuke”, “Nuka-zuke”, and “Miso-zuke”.

In India, the sword bean was a staple of ancient food practices but is less popular nowadays.

In Korea, it is thought to help with many ailments such as vomiting, abdominal dropsy, kidney-related lumbago, asthma, obesity, stomach-ache, dysentery, coughs, headache, intercostal neuralgia, epilepsy, schizophrenia, inflammatory diseases, and swelling.

[4] Additionally, sword bean extract is used in soap to treat athlete’s foot and acne.

In Japan, it was also used for ozena, haemorrhoids, pyorrhea, otitis media, boils, cancers, inflammatory diseases and atopic dermatitis.

[16] The Hakka people of China use the sword bean root in their traditional medicine as a decoction against knee pain (genu arthralgia).

[17] Current scientific studies have proved that sword bean has medically valuable actions such as being an antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-HIV, vasodilator, and anti-osteoporosis.