Though its scientific name was first published as E. rheedii, it is often written as Entada rheedei, honouring Hendrik Adriaan van Rheede tot Draakestein (1637–1691).

[5] The following subspecies have been used:[6] The species is employed in African traditional medicine to induce vivid dreams, said to enable communication with the spirit world.

The 1889 book The Useful Native Plants of Australia records that Entada Scandens has the common names included "Queensland Bean".

Indigenous Australians of the Cleveland Bay area referred to the plant as "Barbaddah" and that "These large beans are ... put into the stone oven and heated in the same way and for the same time as those of Avicennia tomentosa (q.v.

"[8] Its seeds are found on east and southern African beaches, having grown on river and estuary banks and in swamp forest.