Phaseolus lunatus

Lima bean ( Phaseolus lunatus ), seeds

The Lima bean ( Phaseolus lunatus ), also called Moon Bean, is a species of the subfamily Fabaceae ( Faboideae ) within the legume family ( Fabaceae or Leguminosae). This crop is closely related to a number of other " beans " called crops. There is a large and a small-seeded subspecies, which are sometimes called lima bean (large) and Moon Bean ( small) distinction.

The lima bean is probably from Peru. It needs enough heat, and therefore can be grown only to a limited economically in Central Europe.

Description

The lima bean is a bushy, annual or twining, perennial herbaceous plant whose stems can reach lengths of 2 to 4 meters. The petals are usually light - green, sometimes purple.

The most curved legumes are 5 to 15 centimeters long, 1.5 to 2.5 inches wide and contain from two to four seeds. The in shape, size and color very variable seeds are 1-3 inches long, oval to round, and white or dark colored.

Dark colored seeds contain linamarin, a cyanogenic glycoside, may occur out of the blue acid. Seeds with white shell are considered safe.