Phaseolus lunatus

Lima bean, Madagascar bean, butter bean, Java bean

A perennial that is often grown as an annual. There are two distinct forms of lima bean, small-seeded and large-seeded, both native to South America. Normally a twining herb, although bushy varieties also exist. Adapted to warm humid climates and grown under those conditions mainly for human consumption. The ripe seeds contain prussic acid and should first be soaked and then cooked in new water before eating. Pods from varieties with uncoloured seeds can be fed to goats and sheep. The plant is useful for fodder and hay. Once established, it can endure considerable drought.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Pods, Nigeria

95.4

18.8

17.5

4.0

0.6

59.1

374

Seeds, Nigeria

95.6

27.2

5.2

5.5

0.9

61.2

"

Digestibility (%)

Animal

CP

CF

EE

NFE

ME

Ref

Seeds

Sheep

66.1

62.2

63.3

92.9

3.00

512

Amino acid composition as % of crude protein

Leaf

Ref

256

Arg

Cys

Gly

Hys

Ils

Leu

Lys

Met

Phe

Thr

Try

Tyr

Val

4.2

-

-

1.3

3.6

6.6

3.6

1.2

7.0

4.0

1.4

-

5.0

Seed

Ref

79

Arg

Cys

Gly

Hys

Ils

Leu

Lys

Met

Phe

Thr

Try

Tyr

Val

6.3

1.1

4.8

3.0

5.6

8.8

6.7

1.7

6.6

4.9

1.0

3.8

5.8