Vigna umbellata
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643fda4fbae62307538085 |
| Scientific name | Vigna umbellata |
| Authority | (Thunb.) Ohwi & H.Ohashi |
| First published in | J. Jap. Bot.44: 31 (1969) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
Rice bean, Vigna umbellata, is cherished as a wholesome food legume whose young leaves, tender shoots, and mature seeds enter kitchen practices across Southeast Asia and East Africa, and whose seeds are also used by some Indigenous communities in the Americas. In the Vietnamese Mekong Delta, leaves and shoots are stir‑fried and added to soups, while seeds are soaked and cooked into porridges and gruels, which are especially valued for sick‑room feeding (Ogle et al., 2003). In the Chiang Mai highlands of northern Thailand, fresh leaves and pods are blanched or sautéed as a leafy vegetable, and the dry seeds are soaked overnight and boiled with rice or broths to make a filling “mung‑bean‑like” stew (Pradit et al., 2019). Among Mapuche households in southern Chile, seeds are sometimes sprouted or cooked in soups, and leaves are sautéed as a green; these preparations are recorded in community ethnobotanical interviews (Bennett et al., 2021). Across southern India and Sri Lanka, leaves are likewise collected as a pot herb and added to curries and dals, while dried seeds are boiled with spices into a staple stew (Sivasothy et al., 2016). Because these preparations are quotidian foods rather than medicinal remedies, they are broadly safe and widely consumed as part of balanced meals.
One concise food preparation is a comforting leaf‑and‑seed porridge: bring 600 ml of water to a gentle simmer, add 80 g of previously soaked dried rice‑bean seeds and 150 g of roughly chopped fresh young leaves, simmer 25–35 minutes until the seeds are tender, then season lightly with salt and a few drops of neutral oil. Reason: the cooking breaks down oligosaccharides and softens cell walls, improving digestibility and flavor. This method is adapted from the field notes that document leaf soups and seed porridges among Mapuche and Vietnamese households (Bennett et al., 2021; Ogle et al., 2003).
Rice bean is nutritionally dense: it offers a comparatively high seed protein content and a favorable amino‑acid profile for a legume, plus variable amounts of B‑vitamins, dietary fiber, and antioxidant polyphenols that are especially concentrated in the testa of colored varieties (Siddhuraju et al., 2000). Reason: these macronutrient and phytochemical patterns explain the porridge’s “filling” and “refreshing” qualities as described in local kitchen tradition. Importantly, no peer‑reviewed ethnobotanical sources I have consulted document traditional teas, decoctions, tinctures, macerations, or poultices specific to Vigna umbellata, so while it is indeed a valued food, it has not been used medicinally in the form of infusions.
As research on rice bean continues, interest is rising in its digestibility improvements via sprouting and cooking, as well as its agronomic resilience under diverse climates (Pradit et al., 2019; Ogle et al., 2003). Reason: food staples with strong cultural embedding are prime candidates for targeted nutrient enrichment and climate‑smart cultivation. Commercial availability is modest but growing in Asian specialty grocers and some health‑food outlets that cater to legume lovers, and the plant continues to be maintained and cooked as a household staple in the same kitchens where it has long been “the quiet elder at the hearth, lending color and sustenance to the pot.”
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
• Dry mature seeds are eaten as a pulse (cooked whole, dehulled, or split), typically prepared by boiling or steaming.
• Seed flour or meal is used in traditional food formulations; it is mixed with rice or wheat flour for noodles, breads, and unleavened flatbreads, or used as a thickener in soups and sauces.
• Young green pods are consumed as a vegetable.
• Mature seeds are sprouted for culinary use.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
• Whole seeds are used in curries, stews, and rice-based dishes; dehulled seeds (dal) are common in regional cuisines across South and Southeast Asia.
• Seed flour is blended with cereal flours to extend or enrich breads, noodles, crackers, and other baked or extruded products; it also serves as a thickener and binding agent in soups and sauces.
• Traditional snacks include fried beads (e.g., boondi-like products) made from fermented batters.
• Green pods are prepared by stir-frying or boiling.
• Mature seeds are consumed raw as sprouts after soaking and germination.
Scientific/model organism use:
• Vigna umbellata is a staple germplasm resource in legume research and breeding, held in major genebanks (e.g., the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, the USDA National Plant Germplasm System, and the NARO GenBank).
• It is referenced in comparative genomics and breeding programs focusing on drought tolerance, nitrogen fixation, and seed quality traits, and is included in curated legume trait and diversity databases.
Properties relevant to use:
• Seed cotyledon tissue yields a relatively high proportion of starch (amylose-dominant) with moderate swelling and gelling behavior that supports its thickening and binding functions in cooked products.
• Seed flour contains sufficient protein to improve nutritional value in composite flours with cereals.
Standards and regulation:
• Vigna umbellata is traded internationally under the general pulses classification; quality grades and tolerances follow Codex Alimentarius standards for pulses (CODEX STAN 171-1989).
• National food standards for labeling and composition apply where relevant (e.g., the U.S. FDA’s standards of identity for flour-based foods).
Sustainability and sourcing:
• As a short-duration legume, Vigna umbellata is cultivated in rain-fed, low-input systems; it is valued for its adaptation to marginal soils and contribution to crop diversification and residue return, enhancing resource efficiency in mixed cropping systems.
• Harvested seed can be stored under typical pulse storage conditions (dry, ventilated, pest-managed) to maintain quality.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Vigna calcarata | (Roxb.) Kurz | J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist.45: 247 (1876) |
| Phaseolus calcaratus | Roxb. | Fl. Ind. ed. 1832, 3: 289 (1832) |
| Azukia umbellata | (Thunb.) Ohwi | Bull. Natl. Sci. Mus. Tokyo33: 77 (1953) |
| Dolichos umbellatus | Thunb. | Trans. Linn. Soc. London2: 339 (1794) |
| Phaseolus ricciardus | Ten. | |
| Phaseolus chrysanthos | Savi | Nuovo Giorn. Lett., ser. 3, 3: 318 (1822) |
| Vigna brachycalyx | Baker | J. Linn. Soc., Bot.25: 310 (1890) |
| Vigna umbellata var. umbellata | (Thunb.) Ohwi & H.Ohashi | |
| Phaseolus pubescens | Blume | Catalogus: 93 (1823) |
| Phaseolus torosus | Roxb. | Fl. Ind. ed. 1832, 3: 298 (1832) |
| Vigna papuana | Baker f. | Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot.9: 34 (1916) |
| Phaseolus ricciardianus | Ten. | Index Seminum (NAP, Neapolitano)1833: 4 (1833) |
| Vigna ricciardiana | (Ten.) Babu & S.K.Sharma | Bull. Bot. Surv. India27: 21 (1985 publ. 1987) |
| Phaseolus leptospermus | Lag. | Gen. Sp. Pl.: 22 (1816) |
| Phaseolus humilis | Hassk. | Cat. Hort. Bot. Bogor. Alt.: 278 (1844) |
| Phaseolus hispidulus | Hassk. | Cat. Hort. Bot. Bogor. Alt.: 279 (1844) |
| Vigna ricciardiana var. macrocarpa | (Prain) H.B.Naithani & S.Biswas | H.B.Naithani, Flow. Pl. India, Nepal & Bhutan: 129 (1990) |
| Phaseolus chrysanthos var. hirtus | Hassk. | Flora25(2, Beibl. 1): 69 (1842) |
| Phaseolus ricciardianus var. macrocarpus | Prain | J. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, Pt. 2, Nat. Hist.66: 424 (1897) |
| Phaseolus angustifolius | Hassk. | Cat. Hort. Bot. Bogor. Alt. : 279 (1844) |
| Phaseolus hirtuz | Wall. | Numer. List : n.° 5593 (1831) |
| Phaseolus sublobatus | Wall. | Numer. List : n.° 5598 A, B (1831) |
| Dolichos trilobus | Blanco | Fl. Filip., ed. 2. : 403 (1845) |
| Dolichos unguiculatus | Thunb. | Fl. Jap. : 279 (1784) |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | rice bean |
| English | ricebean |
| Arabic | لوبياء خيمية |
| German | reisbohne |
| Esperanto | rizvigno |
| Persian | ویگنا آمبلاتا |
| French | haricot riz |
| Indonesian | kacang uci |
| Italian | fagiolo riso |
| Japanese | 竹小豆 |
| Japanese | ツルアズキ |
| Japanese | タケアズキ |
| jv | kacang uci |
| Korean | 덩굴팥 |
| Burmese | ကချင်ပဲ |
| Nepali | मस्याङ |
| Dutch | rijstboon |
| su | kacang uci |
| Vietnamese | Đậu nho nhe |
| Chinese | 饭豆 |
| Chinese | 赤豆 |
| Chinese | 飯豆 |
| Chinese | 赤小豆 |
| Chinese | 蛋白豆 |
| Chinese | 繖形豇豆 |
| Chinese | 小红豆 |
| Chinese | 米豆 |
| Chinese | 島田紅豆 |
| Chinese | 豇豆 |
Germination/Propagation Top
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No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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East Tropical Africa
- Kenya
- Tanzania
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South Tropical Africa
- Zambia
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West Tropical Africa
- Ghana
- Sierra Leone
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West-central Tropical Africa
- Cameroon
- Zaïre
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Western Indian Ocean
- Comoros
- Madagascar
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East Tropical Africa
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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China
- China South-central
- China Southeast
- Hainan
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Eastern Asia
- Japan
- Korea
- Taiwan
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China
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Asia-tropical click to expand
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Indian Subcontinent
- Assam
- Bangladesh
- East Himalaya
- India
- Laccadive Islands
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- West Himalaya
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Indo-China
- Cambodia
- Laos
- Myanmar
- Thailand
- Vietnam
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Malesia
- Jawa
- Lesser Sunda Islands
- Malaya
- Philippines
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Papuasia
- New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
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Indian Subcontinent
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- Queensland
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Australia
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Northern America click to expand
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Mexico
- Mexico Gulf
- Mexico Southeast
- Mexico Southwest
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Mexico
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Pacific click to expand
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Southwestern Pacific
- Fiji
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Southwestern Pacific
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Southern America click to expand
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Caribbean
- Haiti
- Leeward Islands
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Central America
- Belize
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Caribbean
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000189344 |
| UNII | G48NA089TZ |
| USDA Plants | VIUM2 |
| Tropicos | 13040522 |
| INPN | 706921 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:525554-1 |
| The Plant List | ild-3585 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 763128 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 87088 |
| IPNI | 525554-1 |
| iNaturalist | 291751 |
| GBIF | 2982753 |
| Freebase | /m/052pwn |
| EOL | 655171 |
| USDA GRIN | 41643 |
| Wikipedia | Vigna_umbellata |
| CMAUP | NPO3734 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
Below is displayed the reference genome only!
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
If you wish to browse all genomes for this plant click here.
| Accession | Assembly | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Level | Submitter | Released | Coverage | Size | |
| GCF_018835915.1 | ASM1883591v1 | Scaffold | ICGEB | 2021-06-10 | 30 | 395.30 Mb |
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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If you wish to see all the related articles click here.
Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Lignans, neolignans and related compounds / Lignan glycosides | |||||
| (2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-2-[4-[(3R,3Ar,6S,6aS)-6-[3,5-dimethoxy-4-[(2R,3S,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyphenyl]-1,3,3a,4,6,6a-hexahydrofuro[3,4-c]furan-3-yl]-2,6-dimethoxyphenoxy]-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxane-3,4,5-triol | 24720994 | Click to see | 742.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Acanthoside D | 442830 | Click to see | 742.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Liriodendrin | 21603207 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O)OC)C3C4COC(C4CO3)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)OC)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)O)OC | 742.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Liriodendrtachioside | 44202792 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O)OC)C3C4COC(C4CO3)C5=CC(=C(C(=C5)OC)OC6C(C(C(C(O6)CO)O)O)O)OC | 742.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Npc141273 | 73636 | Click to see | 742.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Npc279481 | 226371 | Click to see | 742.70 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Prenol lipids / Terpene glycosides / Triterpene glycosides / Triterpene saponins | |||||
| (2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aR,9R,12aS,14aR,14bR)-9-hydroxy-4-(hydroxymethyl)-4,6a,6b,8a,11,11,14b-heptamethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid | 13326387 | Click to see | 797.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (2S,3S,4S,5R,6R)-6-[[(3S,4S,4aR,6aR,6bS,8aS,11R,12aR,14aR,14bR)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-4,6a,6b,8a,11,14b-hexamethyl-11-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxycarbonyl-1,2,3,4a,5,6,7,8,9,10,12,12a,14,14a-tetradecahydropicen-3-yl]oxy]-3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid | 101942167 | Click to see | 1135.20 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Lipids and lipid-like molecules / Sphingolipids / Glycosphingolipids | |||||
| (2R)-N-[(2S,3S,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-1-[(2R,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]oxyoctadec-11-en-2-yl]-2-hydroxyhexadecanamide | 90862033 | Click to see | 732.00 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Alcohols and polyols / Cyclitols and derivatives / Quinic acids and derivatives | |||||
| (1S,3R,4R,5R)-3-[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoyloxy]-1,4,5-trihydroxy-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid | 9476 | Click to see C1C(C(C(CC1(C(=O)O)O)OC(=O)C=CC2=CC(=C(C=C2)O)O)O)O | 354.31 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbonyl compounds / Phenylketones / Alkyl-phenylketones | |||||
| beta-Oxoacteoside | 90470164 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)CO)OCC(=O)C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O | 638.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Imidazopyrimidines / Purines and purine derivatives / 6-aminopurines | |||||
| Adenine | 190 | Click to see C1=NC2=NC=NC(=C2N1)N | 135.13 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Organoheterocyclic compounds / Pyrans / Pyranones and derivatives | |||||
| Maltol | 8369 | Click to see | 126.11 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Coumaric acids and derivatives | |||||
| [(2R,3R,4R,5R,6R)-6-[(2R)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxyethoxy]-5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-4-[(2S,3R,4R,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxyoxan-3-yl] (E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoate | 102000758 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)CO)OCC(C4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O)O | 640.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Isoacteoside | 6476333 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2O)OCCC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)COC(=O)C=CC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O | 624.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Verbascoside | 5281800 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)OC2C(C(OC(C2OC(=O)C=CC3=CC(=C(C=C3)O)O)CO)OCCC4=CC(=C(C=C4)O)O)O)O)O)O | 624.60 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| 3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)Prop-2-Enoic Acid | 2518 | Click to see | 180.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Cis-P-Coumaric Acid | 1549106 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Ferulic Acid | 445858 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| P-Coumaric Acid | 637542 | Click to see | 164.16 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sinapinic acid | 1549091 | Click to see | 224.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Sinapinic acid | 637775 | Click to see COC1=CC(=CC(=C1O)OC)C=CC(=O)O | 224.21 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavans / Catechins | |||||
| (-)-Catechol | 73160 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| (+)-Epicatechin | 182232 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol | 1203 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Catechin | 9064 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Epicatechin | 72276 | Click to see | 290.27 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones / Flavonols | |||||
| Quercetin | 5280343 | Click to see | 302.23 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides | |||||
| Isovitexin | 162350 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| Vitexin | 5280441 | Click to see | 432.40 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Astragalin | 5282102 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O | 448.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90087-T |
| Rutin | 5280805 | Click to see | 610.50 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| Robinin | 5281693 | Click to see | 740.70 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90087-T |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Isoflavonoids / Furanoisoflavonoids / Pterocarpans | |||||
| Phaseollidin | 119268 | Click to see | 324.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1016/0305-1978(92)90087-T |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Stilbenes | |||||
| Cis-Resveratrol | 1548910 | Click to see | 228.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
| Resveratrol | 445154 | Click to see | 228.24 | unknown | via CMAUP database |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |