Dolichos

Dolichos is a small genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. Native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia, species in the genus are typically vines or small shrubs that produce pods containing seeds used for food or forage.

In modern classifications, many species formerly placed in Dolichos have been reassigned to other genera such as Lablab, Phaseolus, and Vigna. The best-known historical member is Dolichos biflorus, the horse gram, whose dried seeds are a staple legume in parts of South Asia. Dolichos lablab was long treated as the source of the hyacinth bean and is now usually cited as Lablab purpureus.

Horse gram is valued for drought tolerance and high protein content; its seeds are used in soups, curries, and as sprouts. Hyacinth bean is grown as an ornamental climber and edible bean in warm climates. Other Dolichos species are primarily used as fodder or ground cover, rather than for human consumption.

Distribution and habitat notes: Dolichos species flourish in tropical and subtropical regions, often in open fields, hedgerows, or disturbed ground. The genus’s taxonomic boundaries have fluctuated with advances in plant systematics, leading to reclassification of several taxa into related genera.