Winged bean

The winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus), also known as cigarillas, goa bean, four-angled bean, four-cornered bean, manila bean, princess bean, asparagus bean, dragon bean, is a tropical herbaceous legume plant. Its origin is most likely New Guinea.[1]

It grows abundantly in the hot, humid equatorial countries of South and Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia and Papua New Guinea it is widely known, but only cultivated on a small scale.[2] Winged bean is widely recognised by farmers and consumers in southern Asia for its variety of uses and disease resistance. 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 underutilised species but has the potential to become a major multi-use food crop in the tropics of Asia, Africa, and Latin America.[2]

The winged bean species belongs to the genus Psophocarpus, which is part of the legume family, Fabaceae.[2] Species in the Psophocarpus genus are perennial herbs grown as annuals.[1] Psophocarpus species have tuberous roots and pods with wings.[3] They can climb by twining their stems around a support.