248 



Peas and Beans 



relatively small and slender grower, early and compara- 

 tively hardy,, apparently annual, with thin, short and 

 mostly broad (ovate-pointed) leaflets, numerous small 



papery pods much 

 curved on the back 

 and provided with 

 a long upward 

 point or tip and 

 with the habit of 

 splitting open and 

 twisting when ripe, 

 discharging the 

 seeds beans small and flat, white, brown, or - variously 

 marked with red (Fig. 141). 



2. The true lima bean (P. lunahis var. macrocai'pus) , 

 distinguished from the sieva by its tall growth, lateness, 

 greater susceptibility to cold, perennial in tropical climates, 

 large thick often ovate-lanceolate leaflets, and fewer thick 

 fleshy straightish (or sometimes laterally curved) pods 

 with a less prominent point and not readily splitting open 

 at maturity; seeds much larger, white, red, black or 

 speckled (Figs. 142, 143). Of this true or large lima 

 two types are in cultivation : 



(a) The Flat or Large-Seeded limas, that have large 

 very flat and more or less lunate and veiny seeds, very 

 broad pods with a distinct point, and broad ovate leaf- 

 lets (Fig. 144). 



(b) The Potato limas, with smaller and tumid seeds, 

 shorter and thicker pods with a less prominent point, 

 and long-ovate leaflets tapering from a more or less an- 

 gular base into a long apex. There are dwarf forms. 



143. Germination of lima bean (X %)• 



