Pulse or Leguminous Seeds. 



155 



The Lima or Duffin-bean. 



Phaseolus lunatus, L. 



Hind. — KursumbuUe-puUie, Bunbur-butti. Punjab — Lobiya. 



A tall twining biennial herb, easily distinguished by the pods 

 from other species of Phaseolus. The pod is 2 to 3 inches long, 

 by 1^ to ^ inch broad. The seeds are large, but variable both in 

 colour, markings, and size. This plant is cultivated almost every- 

 where throughout India, but is probably a native of America. 



A white variety of seed (from Mysore) was selected for 

 analysis. These seeds averaged i6>^ grains in weight apiece. 

 The seeds of a common black -veined variety weigh about 7 grains 

 each. 



Composition of Lima or Duffin-beans (C). 



Water 



Albuminoids 



Starch 



Oil 



Fibre 

 Ash 



The nutrient-ratio is here i:3'2, and the nutrient- value 80. 

 This is one of the species of Phaseolus which sometimes exhibits 

 marked poisonous properties. 



It is desirable that great care should be taken in selecting for 

 cultivation the best variety of Lima-beans. The large oval white- 

 seeded kinds, with at the most a brown or black mark close to the 

 hilum, are preferable to those with flattened, rather reniform 

 seeds having blotches of red or veinings of black. 



