4–5; see text The genus Tylosema is in the plant family Fabaceae and encompasses four accepted species of perennial legumes native to southern and central Africa.

[6] Tylosema species grow in mostly sandy soils with low rainfall and can tolerate scorching heat and long-term drought.

Typical daily high temperatures average 37 °C during growing season and radiation frequently exceeds 2000 μmol m−2 s−1.

Herbaceous stems trail or climb, originating from a large underground tuber that is visible above the soil surface.

[8] Herostyly, or flower polymorphism, occurs in all species of Tylosema, although it is unknown in the rest of the family Leguminosae.

[14] In Botswana and Namibia T. esculentum, or Morama bean, is a staple food of the Khoisan people but plants have not been established for cultivation.

[7][15] Beans also have significant levels of calcium, iron, zinc, phosphate, magnesium, and B vitamins including folate.