Lima bean
Phaseolus lunatus

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A perennial climbing bean. It is often a tall vigorously climbing plant which can keep growing for some years. The leaves are slightly rounded at the base and pointed at the tip. The flower is white or yellow. The keel of the flower is twisted which helps tell the difference between this bean and Lablab bean. The pods are long (10 cm), flattened and curved and have 3-4 seeds which are very variable in colour. The seeds are large. The seeds have a short round hilum where the seed is attached to the pod. The seeds also have lines going out from this point across the bean seed.

Where it is found

It suits warm and subtropical areas. In the tropics it is common between 500 and 2100 m altitude but grows to the limit of cultivation (2700 m). For germination it must have a soil temperature above 15.5°C and cannot withstand frost. In very hot weather seeds often do not set. It does best in a temperature range 14-21°C. It is sensitive to a pH less than 6. It can grow in arid places. It suits hardiness zones 8-11. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andes, Angola, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Central America, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo DR, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Laos, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Marianas, Mauritius, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru (country/location of origin), Philippines, Puerto Rico, Reunion, Rwanda, Sahel, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Seychelles, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Uganda, USA, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, West Timor, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The leaves, young pods and seeds are all eaten. The seeds are eaten fresh or after drying. They are also fried in oil. Dried beans are boiled or baked. They can be used in soups and stews. The seeds are sometimes grown as bean sprouts then cooked and eaten. CAUTION Some kinds have poison (hydrocyanic acid). This is destroyed by thorough cooking. As well the beans contain a protein inhibitor but this is destroyed by cooking.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. A quite important and common bean in many highland areas of Papua New Guinea. About 100,000 tons of dry beans are produced each year.

Edible parts

Seeds, leaves, pods, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

It is grown from seed. Coloured seeds are often hard to get to grow but white seeded kinds start growing easily. Sow 3-4 seeds in a hill and put a stick 2-3 m tall in the middle. Hills should be about 1 m apart. Seeds should be 2-4 cm deep.

Harvesting can begin after about 100 days. Dried beans can be stored for several months. Yields of 0.12 kg of seeds per square metre have been obtained. The yield of pods can be 1 kg per square metre. The leaves, pods and flowers can be plucked from the plant.

Its other names

Local names

Abongband, Agwa, Akbaka, Akpatramo, Amaijalero, Apteram, Awuje, Behna, Beloi, Butter bean, Civet bean, Ckuku, Daful, Dau bach-bien, Dau-diem, Dau-ngu, Ebigaaga, Ewuje, Feijao-magalo, Frejol de manteca, Frijol caballero, Haba, Haba pallar, Habilla, Htawbat-pe, Kachang china, Kachang jawa, Kachang mas, Kachang serendeng, Kal-beir-kan, Kara, Kawl-be, Kekara, Khasi kollu, Korokoco, Kpokpo, Kratok, Limski fižol, Lobia, Lobiya, Muma kedeba, Obuhindhini, Obuyindiyindi, Okuku, Onguk, Orusa, Patani, Pe-bra, Pe-byu-gyi, Pe-gya, Roway, Santagu-pe, Sem, Sieva Bean, Taipee, Tim-sin, Torta, Tua rachamat, Tunoran, Wake

Synonyms

Phaseolus bipunctatus Jacq.; Phaseolus inamoenus L.; Phaseolus limensis Macfad.; Phaseolus lunatus var. macrocarpus Benth.; Phaseolus portoricensis Sprengel; Phaseolus puberulus Kunth; Phaseolus saccharatus Macfad.; Phaseolus tonkinensis Lour.; Phaseolus zuaresii Zuccagni;