Fabaceae

The Fabaceae family, made up of dicotyledonous plants, is also commonly called Leguminosae or Papilionaceae. They are herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees or lianas. The roots of many species of this cosmopolitan family from cold to tropical zones bear nodules (rhizobia) that fix atmospheric nitrogen. The vegetable species that interest us are divided into several genera:

• Phaseolus , centralizes bean species, annual herbaceous plants native to Central America Common bean ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), Scarlet runner bean ( Phaseolus coccineus ), Lima bean or Cape pea ( Phaseolus lunatus ) is a cultivated species in hot countries for its seeds and eaten as a vegetable, the tepary bean ( Phaseolus acutifolius ), etc. ;
• Pisum , along with the field pea ( Pisum sativum ) eaten as a vegetable or used as livestock feed;
• Psophocarpus , including the square pea or winged bean, ( Psophocarpus tetragonolobus ), native to Papua New Guinea. A herbaceous perennial, grown as an annual, the pods average 15-22 cm long and have four prominent wings with toothed edges running the length;
• Canavalia , or sword bean or sword bean ( Canavalia gladiata ) is found grown in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia. Its green pods and immature seeds are eaten as cooked vegetables;
• Cajanus , where pigeon pea ( Cajanus cajan ) (pigeon pea, pigeon pea, or pigeon pea) is is a perennial seed legume grown in rainfed agriculture in semi-arid tropics;
• Lens , and the lentil ( Lens culinaris ) which is widely cultivated for its protein-rich edible seeds;
• Vigna , with in particular the cowpea ( Vigna unguiculata subsp. unguiculata ) a vegetable eaten dry and or fresh, and the kilometer bean ( Vigna unguiculata subsp . sesquipedalis )