Vicia faba
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Vicia faba

vetch
field bean
horse bean
fava bean

  family fabaceae 
  genus vicia 

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Identification
Genus  Vicia Species  faba Variety  Cultivar  Common names  vetch   field bean   horse bean   fava bean Family  FABACEAE Specimen number  S12056 Data source  Poison p92;Frgnt p368;UnVeg p25
 
Life cycle
Life form  Terrestrial Life cycle  Annual,Perennial Life span    Annual cycle  Not applicable Stature  Groundcover Growth form  Not applicable Growth habit  Spreading Overall height  3' - 5' Overall spread   
 
Climate
Sunshine  Full sun to full shade Water    Optimal soil texture  Soil texture 29 Acceptable soil pH  Neutral USDA hardiness  Not classified AHS heat zones  Not classified Sunset climate zones  Not classified
 
Garden
Suitable for gardens  no Nursery  Unknown Compost  no Size at acquisition  Unknown Garden location  Unknown Garden notes  The flowers of Vicia faba have a mild cinnamon-like aroma. Fava bean (also known as horse bean, field bean or vetch) likes full sun to full shade.
 
Special qualities
Tolerates drought  no Tolerates high humidity  no Tolerates seaside conditions  no Insect resistant  no Disease resistant  no Deer resistant  no Best uses    Symbiosis  Attracts butterflies  no Attracts hummingbirds  no Autumn foliage  no Colorful berries  no Desirable qualities    Other interest    Other interest color  Other interest period   
 
Adverse factors
Common pests  Poisonous parts  Beans   Pollen Poisonous indications  It contains cyanogenic glycosides which can cause headache, dizziness, vomiting, fever, anemia, jaundice, and death in some humans, especially young boys, with favism (a red blood cell enzyme deficiency). Internal poison  yes Dermatologic poison  no Livestock poison  no Mechanical injury  no Hay fever pollen    Hay fever season    Adverse qualities   
 
Herbal medicine
Medicinal properties  Medicinal parts  Has medicinal uses  no Do not self-administer  no Do no use if pregnant  no Legally restricted  no Toxicity precautions  Medicinal notes  It has mixed lima bean and pea flavors. Vicia faba is most commonly used frozen or cooked. The beans of this plant as well as the pollen are toxic. It is poisonous if ingested. It contains cyanogenic glycosides which can cause headache, dizziness, vomiting, fever, anemia, jaundice, and death in some humans, especially young boys, with favism (a red blood cell enzyme deficiency).
 
Traditional uses
Parts used  Traditional uses  Contemporary uses  Fragrance  cinnamon honey fragrance when grown in masses Fragrance parts  Flowers Fragrance intensity  Mild Fragrance category  Cinnamon Dye parts  Dye color 
 
Cultivation
Propagule  Seed Pollination method    Planting style  Climbing Crop spacing  3" - 4" Row spacing  1' 8" Cold frame  Planting period  Apr 01 - Apr 30 Harvesting period    Frost tolerance  Tolerates cold Heat requirement  Any Fertilizer  Potassium Time to harvest  late spring
 
Nutrition
Is edible  yes Culinary uses  Cooked   Frozen Nutritional value  Edible parts  Beans Description of edible parts Flavor / texture  has mixed lima bean and pea flavors
 
Horticulture
Horticulture notes  The best month for planting is April. When planted agriculturally, space the plants 3" apart. Provide 1' 8" spacing between rows. Potassium is required for optimal growth. The best harvesting period is late spring. Propagation of Vicia faba can be achieved by seed. Fava bean (in some places called horse bean, field bean or vetch) is a native plant in the natural environment and may have originated from Persia.
 
Herbarium
Tag needs printing  no Collection notes  Flowers: Vicia faba has 1 inch white flowers with dull purple dot emerging from leaf axil. The blossoms are most often a white color.

Page 4899 of 4998

Last reviewed November 01, 2004   

 

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