The John crow bead plant earn its name from the red head black bodied Jamaican vulture which is refer to locally as a John crow. The plant produces beans that sports the same red and black colours as the vulture, hence the name. The scientific name of the plant is Abrus precatorius but its more commonly referred to Rosary pea. John crow beads are a member of the legume family Fabaceae which include more popular members such as green pea and soybean, both of which are edible. But unlike some of the other members of this group john crow beads are not edible. They in fact contain a poisonous substance called abrin which can be lethal at certain dose. One must therefore be vigilant with children around john crow beads as they can cause harm to themselves if the peas are chewed on by them, though the hard outer casing of the pea offer some protection.
Phylum: Magnoliophyta
Family: Fabaceae
The John crow bead plant grows as a vine, entangling its self with the surrounding vegetation. What stands out and distinguishes it is its compound leaves and the red and black beans that become exposed as the pods mature and become dry on the plant over time.
