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 20 sea beans DHJanzen101233.jpg high resolution
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| The large purple flowers of Canavalia maritima are pollinated by solitary bees - where there are such on the mainland - or self pollinated on oceanic islands (where there commonly are no native bees). In this there is a difference between being on an island and the mainland - the degree of outcrossing. The large seeds in the large pods are very well protected by containing a concentration of as much as 10% canavanine, an uncommon amino acid that is quite toxic to humans - as verified by the sole survivor of a group of 20 shipwrecked British sailors who decided to make soup of these nice beans that they met upon dragging up on the beach - the survivor had a previous upset stomach so did not eat. | ||
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