Nanea

Part of the back yard, including a steep bank, is in dire need of erosion control.  One of the first things I did after moving in to our current house is plant some different plants in the back yard to see which ones grew well.  One of these is the nanea plant (Vigna marina); a spreading legume (Fabaceae, bean family) vine that fixes nitrogen in the soil and helps other plants grow.  Nanea is in the same genus as black eyed peas (Vigna unguiculata) and the mung bean (Vigna radiata).  It is native to Hawai'i and is also found on tropical islands around the world.  According to "Tropical Legumes: Resources for the Future," p. 37, the tubers are roasted and eaten in northern Queensland, Australia.  It is usually found near the beach and is very tolerant of dry sunny conditions.  It is also the only plant that seems to be doing well on the dry bank.  It is actually growing and spreading since I planted it. 

It is putting out two longer vines that are growing up behind the fence, which is hard to see in the picture above.  Today I noticed that it had started flowering.  Below is a picture of the yellow flower.  This can be a sign of stress in plants but I am hopeful.