bean

The green snap bean harvest in Wisconsin, USA. Snap beans are beans grown primarily for their pods, which are usually broken into pieces and cooked while young and tender and before the seeds have become enlarged. Beans grown primarily for their edible seeds are known as shell beans.

Seed of a large number of leguminous plants (see legume). Beans are rich in nitrogen compounds and proteins and are grown both for human consumption and as food for cattle and horses. Varieties of bean are grown throughout Europe, the USA, South America, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Australia.

The broad bean (Vicia faba) has been cultivated in Europe since prehistoric times. The French bean, kidney bean, or haricot (Phaseolus vulgaris) is probably of South American origin; the runner bean (P. coccineus) is closely allied to it, but differs in its climbing habit. Among beans of warmer countries are the lima or butter bean (P. lunatus) of South America; the soybean (Glycine max), extensively used in China and Japan; and the winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) of Southeast Asia. The tuberous root of the winged bean has potential as a main crop in tropical areas where protein deficiency is common. The Asian mung bean (Phaseolus mungo) yields the bean sprouts used in Chinese cookery. Canned baked beans are usually a variety of (P. vulgaris), which grows well in the USA.