Entada rheedii - whole seeds (sea bean)
Entada rheedii - whole seeds (sea bean)
Whole Entada rheedii seed, the sea bean, produced by one of the largest climbing vines of the tropical world. Sold individually, or as a set of three with a fourth free.
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Expédié depuis le Jura - Paiement sécurisé - Retrait possible à Francheville
What you receive
What you receive
- One whole seed, undrilled and unworked
- Hard, glossy brown shell, about 4 to 6 cm
- Set of 3 seeds + 1 free also available
The seed that crosses oceans
The seed that crosses oceans
Entada rheedii is a giant vine of the tropical forests of Africa, Asia and Oceania. It produces woody pods that are among the longest in the plant kingdom, up to two metres, containing around ten large flat seeds.
These seeds have a remarkable feature: their watertight shell and the air cavity inside make them buoyant and rot-proof. When they fall into a river, they reach the sea and sometimes drift for years. They are regularly found on the beaches of Northern Europe, as far as Norway and Scotland, carried from the tropics by the North Atlantic Drift. It is to this journey that they owe their name of sea bean, and the place they took in the folklore of Atlantic coasts long before anyone knew where they came from.
An object, not a material
An object, not a material
Unlike the other items in this section, Entada is bought individually, as an object. Its shell is hard and thick enough to be sanded, engraved or mounted, which has traditionally made it a base for amulets in several cultures of the Pacific and the Indian Ocean.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called a sea bean?
Because it is found washed up on beaches, very far from its native range. Its waterproof shell allows it to drift for thousands of kilometres without deteriorating.
Are all the seeds identical?
No. They are natural objects: the size, colour and pattern of the shell vary from one seed to another. The one you receive will not be exactly the one in the photo.
Can it be germinated?
Germinating Entada rheedii is known to be difficult and requires scarifying the very hard shell. Our seeds are sold as collector's items, with no guarantee of germination.
Can it be consumed?
No. We sell it as a collector's botanical object, not as a food product, and we do not provide any preparation method.
Collector's product
Collector's product
This seed is sold as a botanical object intended for collection, ethnobotanical study and ornamental use. It is not a food product and is not intended for consumption. We provide no dosage, no preparation method and no expected effect. Sale restricted to adults (18 and over).
Also worth exploring: our dried herbs of the world and our botanical curiosities.
