About Entada gigas (L.) Fawc. & Rendle
Entada gigas (L.) Fawc. & Rendle has the following generative characteristics. Its fruit is a pod that measures 12 cm (4.7 in) across and typically reaches 2 m (6.6 ft) in length, with reports of pods growing up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long. Like all legume pods, this pod develops from a single carpel, and this carpel is the largest known of any plant. Inside each pod, there are 10 to 15 seeds. Each seed has a diameter of 6 cm (2.4 in) and a thickness of 2 cm (0.79 in). Seeds of Entada gigas contain a hollow cavity that gives them buoyancy. When rain washes the seeds into rivers that carry them to the ocean, they can drift long distances along ocean currents. The seeds retain both their buoyancy and vitality for at least two years. In Gabon, Entada gigas is used to produce ropes and nets.
