[Greenbuilding] [BULK] Re: [BULK] Re: Wood Info many legumes toxic

[Lawrence Lile]

>The main point I want to make is to address the very dangerous claim that
most legume seeds are edible.   Some of the most toxic seeds in the world are
legume seeds, e.g., Erythina spp.  Honey locusts are indeed edible, though
normally it is the sweet pulp of the pod that is eaten.   Some of my permaculture
students in Iowa made a perfectly good temphe from the seed, however.   Be
careful about these generalizations.   Someone might believe them!

Dan Hemenway

Thanks for the warning, Dan.  I was unaware that there were any poisonous legumes.  There are so many examples of edible legumes - Red Clover, Honey Locust, and of course the garden beans.  
 
--Lawrence Lile