Plant Profile
Mucuna gigantea subsp. gigantea
Kāʻeʻe, Kāʻeʻeʻe
Main Plant Information
Genus
Mucuna
Species
gigantea
Subspecies
- gigantea
Hawaiian Names with Diacritics
- Kāʻeʻe
- Kāʻeʻeʻe
Hawaiian Names
- Kaee
- Kaeee
Common Names
- Sea bean
Synonyms
- Dolichos giganteus
Plant Characteristics
Distribution Status
Indigenous
Endangered Species Status
No Status
Plant Form / Growth Habit
- Vine/Liana
Mature Size, Height (in feet)
No data available.
Mature Size, Width
Kāʻeʻe are large woody lianas with stems high-climbing or sprawling from 25 to 50 feet or more long.
Life Span
Long lived (Greater than 5 years)
Landscape Uses
- Trellis or Fence Climber
Additional Landscape Use Information
Rarely seen in gardens of any type in Hawaiʻi, though seeds are occasionally found on beaches. These salt-tolerant seeds do germinate in natural habitats and would be an interesting liana if given enough room to spread and climb larger shrubs and trees.
Plant Produces Flowers
Yes
Flower Characteristics
Flower Type
Showy
Flower Colors
- Green
- Yellow
Additional Flower Color Information
Flowers are yellowish-green (outside of Hawaiʻi are also white or pale lilac).
Leaf Characteristics
Plant texture
- Coarse
Leaf Colors
- Medium Green
Pests and Diseases
Growth Requirements
Water Requirements
- Dry
- Moist
Soil must be well drained
Yes
Light Conditions
- Full sun
Tolerances
- Salt Spray
Soils
- Sand
- Coral
Environmental Information
Natural Range
- Kauaʻi
- Oʻahu
- Molokaʻi
- Maui
- Hawaiʻi
- Northwest Islands
Natural Zones (Elevation in feet, Rainfall in inches)
- Less than 150, 0 to 50 (Dry)
- 150 to 1000, 0 to 50 (Dry)
Habitat
- Terrestrial
Additional Habitat Information
Kāʻeʻe is found sprawling over rocks, shrubs, and trees usually near the ocean or streams from sea level to just over 1000 feet on some of the main islands. Addtionally, seeds have also been found on Lisianski and Laysan in the Northwest Islands.
Special Features and Information
General Information
Mucuna is a pantropical and subtropical genus of about 100 species is a member of the very large Pea or Legume family (Fabaceae).
Mucuna gigantea subsp. gigantea and M. sloanei are indigenous; M. persericea is an endangered species from East Maui (Makawao to Wailua Iki).
Etymology
The generic name Mucuna is derived from the Brazilian vernacular name mucuna-quaca , for Mucuna urens .
The specific and subspecific epithet gigantea is from the Latin giganteus , unusually large or tall.
Early Hawaiian Use
Lei:
Seeds, known as pēkaʻa, were strung for lei by early Hawaiians.
Medicinally:
The powdered seeds were used for their strong purgative effect. [2]
Modern Use
The beautiful dark brown seeds are strung as permanent leis. [1]
Additional References
[1] “Hawaiʻi’s Seeds and Seed Leis-An Indentification Guide” by Laurie Shimizu Ide, pages 102-103.
[2] “In Gardens of Hawaii” by Marie C. Neal, page 462.
