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Glycine max

Common name:	Soya Bean	Family:	Leguminosae
Author:	(L.)Merr.	Botanical references:	58, 200
Synonyms:	Soja max ((L.)Piper.), Phaseolus max (L.), Glycine hispida ((Moench.)Maxim.)
Known Hazards:	The raw mature seed is toxic and must be thoroughly cooked before being eaten[76]. The sprouted raw seed is sometimes eaten and is considered to be a wholesome food.
Range:	E. Asia.
Habitat:	Lowland thickets, C. and S. Japan[58].
Edibility Rating (1-5):	4	Medicinal Rating (1-5):	2

Other Possible Synonyms:	From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
	Dolichos soja[G,P] G. gracilis[G,P] G. soja[G] Soja hispida[G,H,P]
Other Common Names:	From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
	Chiang [E], Chiang Yu [E], Hei Tou [E], Huang Tou [E], Jen Shu [E], Jung Shu [E], Pai Tou [E], Shih Tou [E], Shih Yu [E], Shu [E], Sojaboon [D], Soy Bean [H], Soya Fasulyasi [E], Soybean [B,H,L,E,P], Ta Tou [E], Ta Tou Huang Chuen [E], Ta Tou Shih [E], Tou Fu [E], Tou Huang [E], Tou Yu [E],
Systematics:	From a USDA Plants Database
	Order: Fabales. Renamed to Fabaceae -- Pea family
Other Range Info:	From the Ethnobotany Database
	Asia China India Turkey Us Us(Ny)
Noxious, Invasive and Injurious Weeds	From USDA PLANTS database, Weeds Australia , DEFRA Injurious Weeds
	Listed as noxious/invasive for: USA Invasive.

Physical Characteristics

Annual growing to 0.6m. It is hardy to zone 8. It is in flower from July to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. It can fix Nitrogen. We rate it 4/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use.

The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds.

Cultivar 'Fiskeby V': Cultivated Beds.

Edible Uses

Coffee Leaves Milk Oil Seed Seedpod.

Mature seed - cooked[2, 33]. The seeds furnish one of the world's most important sources of oil and protein, they can be eaten as they are in soups, stews etc[183, 269], though they are also very commonly used in the preparation of various meat substitutes[34, 46]. The dried seed can be ground into a flour and added to cereal flours or used for making noodles etc[183]. The Japanese make a powder from the roasted and ground seed, it is called 'Kinako' and has a nutty flavour and fragrance - it is used in many popular confections[183]. The sprouted seed is eaten raw or added to cooked dishes. The toasted seeds can be eaten as a peanut-like snack[183]. The seed is also made into numerous fermented foods such as miso and tempeh[183] and is also used to make soya milk, a valuable protein supplement in infant feeding which also provides curds and cheese[269]. The seed contains 20% oil and 30 - 45% protein[100]. All seeds on a soybean plant mature at essentially the same time. Maturity of the seed is accompanied by a rapid dropping of the leaves and drying of the stems[269]. Average yield of beans is about 1700 kg/ha[269]. High-yielding cvs, adapted to the locality and grown under proper culture and favourable conditions will yield more than twice the average yield[269].
The immature seed is cooked and used like peas or eaten raw in salads[105, 183].
The strongly roasted and ground seeds are used as a coffee substitute[183].
The young seedpods are cooked and used like French beans[116, 183].
An edible semi-drying oil is obtained from the seed[269]. It is cooked or can be used as a dressing in salads etc and for manufacture of margarine and shortening[34, 183, 269].
Young leaves - raw or cooked[179, 183].

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Antidote Astringent Diaphoretic Laxative Ophthalmic Resolvent Stomachic.

The fermented seed is weakly diaphoretic and stomachic[176]. It is used in the treatment of colds, fevers and headaches, insomnia, irritability and a stuffy sensation in the chest[176].
The bruised leaves are applied to snakebite[218].
The flowers are used in the treatment of blindness and opacity of the cornea[218].
The ashes of the stems are applied to granular haemorrhoids or fungus growths on the anus[218].
The immature seedpods are chewed to a pulp and applied to corneal and smallpox ulcers[218].
The seed is antidote[218]. It is considered to be specific for the healthy functioning of bowels, heart, kidney, liver and stomach[218, 269].
The seed sprouts are constructive, laxative and resolvent[218]. They show an oestrogen-like activity in the body and are also antispasmodic[279].The sprous are used in the treatment of oedema, dysuria, chest fullness, decreased perspiration, the initial stages of flu and arthralgia[176].
A decoction of the bark or root is astringent[240, 269].
Soybean diets are valued for treating acidosis[269].
Since soybean oil has a high proportion of unsaturated fatty acid, it is recommended, like safflower, poppy seed, etc. to combat hypercholesteremia[269].
Commercial grades of natural lecithin, which are often derived from soybean, are reported to contain a potent vasopressor. Medicinally lecithin is indicated as a lipotropic agent[269].
Soybean is listed as a major starting material for stigmasterol, once known as an antistiffness factor. Sitosterol, also a soy by-product, has been used to replace diosgenin in some antihypertensive drugs[269].

Other Uses

Biomass Green manure Oil Paper.

The seed contains up to 20% of an edible semi-drying oil[171, 269]. It is non-drying according to another report[57]. This oil has a very wide range of applications and is commonly used in the chemical industry[171, 206]. The oil is used industrially in the manufacture of paints, linoleum, oilcloth, printing inks, soap, insecticides, and disinfectants[34, 46, 100, 269].
Lecithin phospholipids, obtained as a by-product of the oil industry, are used as a wetting and stabilizing agent in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, leather, paint, plastic, soap, and detergent industries[269].
Both the meal and the soy bean protein are used in the manufacture of synthetic fibre, adhesives, textile sizing, waterproofing, fire-fighting foam and many other uses[269].
The plant is sometimes grown as a green manure[269].
The straw can be used to make paper, stiffer than that made from wheat straw[269].
The plant is an excellent source of biomass. The oil from the seeds can be used as a diesel fuel whilst the stems can be burnt as a fuel[269].

Cultivation details

A fairly easily-grown plant, it grows best in a sunny position on fertile, well-drained soils[33, 38], but does tolerate a wide range of soil conditions[269]. Soybeans will brow better than many crops on soils that are low in fertility, droughty or poorly drained[269]. Prefers a well-drained sandy soil[1]. Prefers a slightly acid soil[200, 206]. Soya does not grow well in a wet climate[132], nor will it withstand excessive heat or severe cold winters[269]. The plant has been reported to tolerate an annual precipitation in the range of 31 to 410cm (though it requires at least 50cm for a good crop), an annual mean temperature range of 5.9 to 27° C and a pH in the range of 4.3 to 8.4 (preferring 6 - 6.5)[269].
Soya is one of the most widely cultivated plants in the world, being grown for its oil and protein rich edible seed, there are many named varieties[183, 206, 269]. A subtropical plant, but its cultivation extends from the tropics to as far north as latitude 52° N[269]. The species, and most of its cultivars, is a short-day plant and does not flower or set seed unless the daylight hours are less than 13 hours per day[269].
There are three basic types of soya bean, those with green seeds are considered to be the most tender and best flavoured and are the type best suited for northern climates. Black seeded forms are normally used dried and yellow seeded forms are used for making soya milk, flour etc[206]. The plant requires a hot summer with a mean July temperature between 16 and 18° c[206] and a dry autumn if it is to do well in Britain[1, 33], though it is as hardy as the runner bean, Phaseolus coccineus[1]. The best crops outdoors in Britain are obtained if the plants are started off in a greenhouse and planted out in late spring although a direct sowing outdoors in early May can succeed in good summers but yields will then normally be low. Many cultivars will not flower in the shorter days of late summer in the northern hemisphere and so are not suitable for growing in Britain[206].
Some botanists separate the cultivated forms of soya from this species and call them G. soja. Sieb.& Zucc[200].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200]. Soybean soils must contain the proper nitrogen-fixing bacteria. When grown on the same land for 2 - 3 successive years, increasing yields are obtained year after year[269]. Seed can be purchased that has been treated with this rhizobium, it is unnecessary on soils with a pH below 5.5 but can be helpful on other soils[206]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and then sow in early spring in a greenhouse. The seed should germinate within two weeks at a temperature between 12 - 16° c[206]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Seed can also be pre-soaked for 12 hours in warm water and then sown in situ in late spring, though this will not yield well unless the summer is very hot.

Cultivars

'Fiskeby V': Produces mosty 3 small light-yellow beans per pod[183]. It is grown mainly for eating when the pods are still green, though it can also be grown as a seed crop[183, K]. The seeds contain about 40% protein, which is very low in the antitrypsin factor that interferes with the digestion of uncooked soya protein[183]. An exceptionally hardy and early maturing form, it has produced good yields as far north as southern Canada[183]. Unfortunately, most gardeners who have tried growing it in Britain have had very low yields[K].

Suppliers

For more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look.

Web References

[H] Details of Scandanavian and European Common names in Henriette's names database
[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.
[V] Images from the Vascular Plant Image Gallery of the Texas A& M Bioinformatics Working Group.
[B] Data (Latin & Common names, other references) from the BONAP's Synonymized Checklist of the Vascular Flora of the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
[G] Data (Common Names, Uses, Distribution) from the USDA/ARS NPGS's GRIN taxonomic database.
[PHARM] Phytochemical Data (common names, uses, countries) from Dr Duke's Phytochemical Database.
[P] Data. (uses, distribution, wetland) from the USDA'a Plants database.
[HEC] Use, Folk Medicine, etc. from Handbook of Energy Crops by James Duke
[HP] Links, Photos, Suppliers from Hortiplex Plant Database

References for Glycine hispida (a possible synonym).

[E] Ethnobotany Data (common names, uses, countries) from the Ethnobotany Database.

References for glycine max (a possible synonym).

[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures
[HP] PhotoFrom Henriette's plant pictures

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources.

Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images.

References

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[33] Organ. J. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber 1960
Unusual vegetables that can be grown outdoors in Britain. A good guide.

[34] Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975
Good drawings of some of the more common food plants from around the world. Not much information though.

[38] Simmons A. E. Simmons' Manual of Fruit. David & Charles. 1978 ISBN 0-7153-7607-1
A good guide to some of the cultivars of temperate fruits. It covers quite a wide range of fruits.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[57] Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Fairly readable but not very comprehensive. Deals with plants from around the world.

[58] Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965
The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[76] Cooper. M. and Johnson. A. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. HMSO 1984 ISBN 0112425291
Concentrates mainly on the effects of poisonous plants to livestock.

[100] Polunin. O. Flowers of Europe - A Field Guide. Oxford University Press 1969 ISBN 0192176218
An excellent and well illustrated pocket guide for those with very large pockets. Also gives some details on plant uses.

[105] Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976
The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[116] Brooklyn Botanic Garden Oriental Herbs and Vegetables, Vol 39 No. 2. Brooklyn Botanic Garden 1986
A small booklet packed with information.

[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.

[171] Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.

[176] Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985
A very good Chinese herbal.

[179] Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977
A translation of an ancient Chinese book on edible wild foods. Fascinating.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[206] Larkcom J. Oriental Vegetables John Murray 1991 ISBN 0-7195-4781-4
Well written and very informative.

[218] Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[240] Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986
Very terse details of medicinal uses of plants with a wide range of references and details of research into the plants chemistry. Not for the casual reader.

[269] Duke. J. Handbook of Energy Crops - 1983
Published only on the Internet, excellent information on a wide range of plants.

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