Species

Vicia faba

Common Name(s)

broad bean, fava bean, horse bean, English bean

Family

Fabaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs other than Composites

Features

The plant is an erect, stiff-stemmed, leafy legume reaching 2-5 feet when mature. Small white flowers are borne in spikelets. 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.

Flower Colours

Black,White

Year Naturalised

1922

Origin

Horticultural (crop)

This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010