magic bean?

20 years ago

Does anyone know the species of the plant being sold around the place as magic bean or message bean? You know the ones which germinate to reveal a message laser'd into the cotyledons?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:2111759}}

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Comments (5)

User
20 years ago
Hi Jamus,

I hadn't heard of these, so I had a little Google around and came up with both Canavalia gladiata (sword bean) and C. ensiformis (jack bean). They both appear to be edible beans used in Asia. I gather there is more than one 'producer' of these message beans, so other types of beans may be used as well.

Cheers,
Dee.
Jamus_S
Original Author
20 years ago
Canavalia ensiformis is what I have seen. Thanks very much Dee. Nice piece of detective work. I did do some searches myself but must have gone up a blind alley with it.

Cheers
Jamus.
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First I would ask the person you got it from what kind of bean it is. If they don't know I wouldn't eat it. I would however let the pod dry and save the seeds to plant next year as a decorative plant again.
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Notice I said "I'm sure" but not "You definitely can." I am aware there are poisonous legumes and I have an interest in ID'ing and eating wild edible plants, so I am aware of the rule to treat an unknown plant as poison till it is positively identified. I guess that is bizarre advice now that I look back at my post. I wasn't thinking much and just was being lazy and wanted to get the post over with... :P But the reason I think it is probably edible is because I wouldn't expect the company to sell a poisonous species "magic bean" since most people expect beans to be edible and the concept of magic beans is something that kids would be interested in. So I'm not saying it's definitely edible for sure. I just don't see why it wouldn't be. But get a positive ID on the plant first just to be sure. Hope that clears things up. ;)
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aroideana
20 years ago
The 'Magic Beans' in the stupor markets up here are Black beans , a tropical native , maybe a more temperate specie is used elsewhere ..
wollemia_TC
20 years ago
Certainly the ones I have seen around Brisbane are Castanospermum, the black bean aroidiana refers to
Jamus_S
Original Author
20 years ago
I've seen the Castanospermum too being sold as 'magic bean'. What I'm talking about is a different thing where they laser a message into the seed before planting and when the seedling emerges and its cotyledons are spread the message can be read. I haven't seen this trick done with black bean (yet) as I think the companies producing these are overseas.

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magic bean?

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magic bean?

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