Article Nº 1404 Plant Vol. II · p. 23
Sea beans
Original title: Favas do Mar
Sea beans: legume seeds carried by ocean currents to Madeira's north coast, especially Porto da Cruz, which Columbus may have taken as evidence of lands to the west.
These are the seeds of leguminous plants which are carried by the ocean current to the north coast of Madeira, especially at Porto da Cruz (‘harbour of the cross’). The seeds most often found there are those of Guillandina Bonduc and of two species of the genera Entada and Mucuna.
Some suppose that Columbus, who perhaps did not fail to notice the arrival of such seeds, saw in them proof that unknown lands existed towards the west.
The seeds we refer to are also known as castanhas do mar (sea chestnuts).
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