Canavalia gladiata is commonly referred to as sword bean, jack bean, or giant stock bean. It is an annual legume that is native to tropical and subtropical regions of America. The sword bean got its name from the peculiarly shaped pods that are long, slender and curvy just like a sword. The jack bean is another name for canavalia gladiata because of the large seeds that are shaped like a jack. The giant stock bean was given its name due to the nature of its growth habit, which is upright and tall. Other synonyms for the bean include: Brazilian broad bean, Ethiopian large-seeded bean, and Indian bean.