The genus Maerua comprises about 60 species found in Africa and Asia. Maerua is a genus of plant in family Capparaceae. The origin of the name Maerua is uncertain, but it may come from Arabic.

Maerua angolensis commonly known as Bead Bean is a South African indigenous tree found in the KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West Provinces. It grows into a medium tree of up to 10 meter tall. It has a greyish stem and simple shiny drooping leaves. From winter to spring it bears sweetly scented flowers with no petals. These are followed by pod-like fruit which are constricted around the seeds like a string of beads.