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Phaseolus lunatus
  • Lima Bean
    •  
  • Butter Bean

a perennial woody member of the Phaseolus genus in the family Leguminosae.

248px
Niche
  • Climber
    Climber
    There are no details available for this niche.
Functions
  • Nitrogen fixer
    Nitrogen fixer
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid, neutral, alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Clay
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 10
    Zone 10
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Phaseolus lunatus has 0 edible uses listed
Phaseolus lunatus has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Seed

Hydrocyanic acid, Linamarin moderate toxicity
The raw mature seed is poisonous. The toxic principle is variously reported to be hydrocyanic acid[1] or Linamarin[2], but reports are agreed that when cooked they are safe to eat.
The given value was not understood.

Edible uses

Notes

Immature seed - cooked and used like peas in soups, stews etc[3]. The mature seed is dried and stored for future use. It must be thoroughly cooked before being eaten[1]. It is best soaked for about 12 hours prior to cooking and is eaten in soups, stews or fermented and made into tempeh[3]. The sprouted seeds are cooked and used in Chinese dishes[3]. The dried seed can be ground into a powder then used as a thickener in soups or can be mixed with cereal flours when making bread. Young seedpods - steamed and used as a side dish with rice, or added to soups, stews etc[3]. Leaves - cooked. They often have a bitter taste[3].

Leaves

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Seedpod

Unknown use

Material uses

There are no material uses listed for Phaseolus lunatus.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The seeds are astringent[4]. They are used in the diet of people with fevers[4].

Unknown part

Astringent

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Climber

Ecological Functions

Nitrogen fixer

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow in mid spring in a greenhouse. Germination should take place within 10 days. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frosts.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Phaseolus lunatus. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a well-drained moderately fertile soil in a sunny position. Plants are prone to drop their flowers when grown in nitrogen-rich soils[1]. The Lima bean is commonly cultivated for its edible seed and seedpods in tropical and warm temperate areas of the world, there are many named varieties[3][1]. The plants are very frost tender and are even less tolerant of wet and cold than the runner bean, Phaseolus coccineus[1]. There are bush and climbing forms, the climbers are more productive but bush forms come into bearing more quickly and are probably more suitable for cooler gardens[1]. Plants mature in 12 - 16 weeks from seed in warm climates but the growing season in Britain is usually too short for the beans to mature fully and crop yields are seldom worthwhile[1]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[1].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Phaseolus lunatus. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Phaseolus lunatus.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Phaseolus lunatus
Genus
Phaseolus
Family
Leguminosae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][1]
Medicinal uses
[4]
Material uses & Functions
Botanic
[1]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Nitrogen fixer
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
10
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    Climber
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    woody
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    ?
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    ?
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    hermaphrodite

    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.




    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.71.81.9 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (32202/01/01)
    2. ? Lois Tilton [Beans! Beans! The Poisonous Fruit!] Daves Garden ()
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.6 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (32202/01/01)
    4. ? 4.04.14.2 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (32202/01/01)



    "image:Phaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

    Retrieved from "https://practicalplants.org/w/index.php?title=Phaseolus_lunatus&oldid=82109"
    Facts about "Phaseolus lunatus"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteFalse +
    Article requires citationsFalse +
    Article requires cleanupFalse +
    Belongs to familyLeguminosae +
    Belongs to genusPhaseolus +
    Functions asNitrogen fixer +
    Has binomial namePhaseolus lunatus +
    Has common nameLima Bean + and Butter Bean +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partLeaves +, Seed + and Seedpod +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
    Has hardiness zone10 +
    Has imagePhaseolus lunatus Blanco2.352.png +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useAstringent +
    Has primary imagePhaseolus_lunatus_Blanco2.352.png +
    Has search namephaseolus lunatus +, lima bean + and butter bean +
    Has seed requiring scarificationFalse +
    Has seed requiring stratificationFalse +
    Has shade toleranceNo shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil texture preferenceSandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomic rankSpecies +
    Has taxonomy namePhaseolus lunatus +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Inhabits ecosystem nicheClimber +
    Is herbaceous or woodyWoody +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    PFAF cultivation notes migratedYes +
    PFAF edible use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF material use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF medicinal use notes migratedYes +
    PFAF propagation notes migratedYes +
    PFAF toxicity notes migratedYes +
    Tolerates air pollutionFalse +
    Tolerates maritime exposureFalse +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilFalse +
    Tolerates windFalse +
    Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.Phaseolus lunatus +, Phaseolus lunatus +, Phaseolus lunatus +, Phaseolus lunatus + and Phaseolus lunatus +