SC - Broad (fava) beans more info

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Bean, Broad -- Vicia faba L. 

James M. Stephens 

Broad bean is also known as horse bean, Windsor bean, English bean, tick bean,
fava bean, field bean, and pigeon bean. Broad
beans are sometimes classified into subspecies according to varieties and
their uses in various countries. Thus, subspecies faba
var. minor is the beck, tick, or pigeon bean, greatly used for human
consumption in the Arabic world, but also used for animal
forage, like the horse bean (var. equina ) specifically fed to horses. The
broad bean proper, also known as Windsor or straight
bean, is var. major . Indian varieties, generally dried and eaten as pulses,
are classified as subspecies paucyuga . 

The origin of broad beans is obscure, but the best information indicates the
Mediterranean area. Remains are reported to have
been found in Egyptian tombs. 

DESCRIPTION 

Broad beans get their name from the seeds which are large and flat. Seeds are
variable in size and shape, but usually are nearly
round and white, green, buff, brown, purple, or black. Pods are large and
thick, but vary from 2-12 inches in length. The plant is an
erect, stiff-stemmed, leafy legume reaching 2-5 feet when mature. They are
quite different from common beans in appearance
because the leaves look more like those of English peas than bean leaves.
Small white flowers are borne in spikelets. 

CULTURE 

Broad bean is a long, cool season crop, requiring 4-5 months from planting to
harvest. In most of Florida it is best to plant from
September through March. It is grown as a summer annual in northern climates
and as a winter annual in warmer climates. In the
tropics it is adapted only at higher altitudes. Flowering is adversely
affected by dry, hot weather. 

USE 

The parts of the plants used are the seeds as a cooked vegetable. Pick the
beans when they are full-sized, but before the pods dry,
since they are a green-shell bean. They may also be used as a dry bean for
food and livestock feed. Broad beans are very
nutritious, containing 23% protein. 

A word of caution is necessary because where these beans are eaten regularly
as the main diet, as in certain tropical countries, a
paralytic condition known as favaism has occurred. 

Seeds are not as widely available as those of other types of beans. Most local
garden supply stores in the USA do not carry them.
The varieties `Long Pod' and `Giant Three-seeded' are often advertised. 

Other Varieties Fava Beans. 
Aquadulce 
Ipro 
Banner 
Ite 
Bell 
Masterpiece 
Bonnie Lad 
Minica 
Broad Windsor 
Primo 
Brunette 
Relon 
Bunyard's Exhibition 
Suprifin 
Colossal 
Tezieroma 
Express 
Toto 
Fava 
Windsor 
Hava 
Witkiem Major 



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