Lima bean

A twining annual or perennial (Phaseolus lunatus), native to tropical South America; leaves with three leaflets; pea-flowers white or yellowish, in long clusters from the axils of the leaves; pods up to 12·5 cm/5 in long, oblong, containing 2–4 flattened, whitish seeds; also called butter bean. It is widely grown in the tropics and subtropics for the edible seeds (beans). Cultivars with red, brown, purple, and black seeds are also grown. (Family: Leguminosae.)

The Lima bean or butter bean, (Phaseolus lunatus, Fabaceae) is grown as a vegetable for its mature and immature beans. Also known as Haba bean, Burma bean, Guffin bean, Hibbert bean, Java bean, Sieva bean, Rangood bean, Madagascar bean, Paiga, Paigya, Prolific bean, Civet bean and Sugar bean.

The small-seeded wild form (Sieva type) is found distributed from Mexico to Argentina, generally below 1600 meters above sea level, while the large-seeded wild form (Lima type) is found distributed in Ecuador and the north of Peru, between 320 and 2030 meters above sea level.