Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Asparagus pea pods are characterized by four symmetrically arranged, lengthwise ridges (hence the alternative common
name, winged bean).
Lima beans come from Central America (Mexico, Guatemala) and South America (Peru, Ecuador)
and were domesticated in two separate events. Wild lima beans were an important food source for re-
gional native peoples, who also used lima bean roots medicinally. Spaniards and Portuguese brought
the lima bean to Europe, where it later spread to Asia and Africa.
The cowpea (or black-eyed pea, to the New World) is one of the traditional legumes of the Old
World, originating in sub-Saharan Africa. The ancient Greeks and Romans grew it, calling it
“phase(o)lus.” Around 1250, Dominican monk and naturalist Albertus Magnus wrote a detailed de-
scription of it. But when the common bean (
Phaseolus vulgaris
) was introduced from the New World,
the name
Phaseolus
was assigned to it instead—a source of much confusion. Long-podded cowpeas
were most likely bred in southeast Asia.
The asparagus pea grows wild from the Mediterranean region to the South Caucasus. It has been
grown in Germany since the 17th century. It is grown for food in home gardens in India, Bangladesh,
Indonesia, Burma, and New Guinea.
Wild mung beans (var.
sylvestris
) grow in the northern regions of the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Archeological finds show their use since 3500-3000
BC
.
FAVA BEAN
Vicia faba
The fava bean is a very old protein-rich plant that has been grown in the Near East since the late Neo-
lithic period. It forms one primary stem and grows mainly vertically, rather than forming a short, com-
pact bush, though sometimes more than one primary stem can form. The variability of the fava bean is
enormous, with varieties existing for myriad growing conditions and intended uses. Varieties for field-
scale growing distinguish themselves largely on the basis of their thousand-seed weight:
• small-seeded, var.
minor
(field bean): used mostly as a protein feed for livestock
• midsize-seeded, var.
equina
(horse bean)
• large-seeded, var.
faba
(broad bean): used as green bean or dry bean
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
