Plants
lima bean
Phaseolus lunatus L.
Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Phaseolus
butter bean
Annual or short-lived perennial nitrogen-fixing legume, native to the Americas. EcoAgri lists it in the high stratum of the 'up to 6 months' bin. Climbing varieties reach 2–4 m on supports; bush varieties up to 1 m.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Placenta I
- Ecological role
- Pioneer
- Primary stratum
- High
- Strata
- High, Medium
- Biomass class
- Fertilizer biomass
Environment
- Light requirement
- Full sun
- Water requirement
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Soil pH range
- 4.4–7.5
- Preferred soil texture
- Loamy, Sandy
Morphology
- Mature height
- 1–4 m
- Growth rate
- Very fast
- Lifespan
- ≤ 1 year
- Time to first harvest
- 4 months
Biomes & climate
- Caatinga Native
- Atlantic Forest Suitable
- Cerrado Suitable
Köppen classes
- Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
- Hot semi-arid (BSh) Suitable
- Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Lima bean takes the High stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How long until the first harvest of lima bean?
The first harvest of lima bean comes around 4 months after planting.
How tall does lima bean grow?
At maturity, lima bean reaches 1–4 m tall.
What stage and stratum does lima bean occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, lima bean belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the high stratum.
Does lima bean fix nitrogen?
Yes — lima bean is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.
Functions
Propagation
Seed
Citations
- EcoAgri — Organização de algumas espécies vegetais por tempo de vida (placentas) e estrato (Cartilha 'Liberdade e Vida com Agrofloresta') , p. 1 (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage)
- Feedipedia — Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus) (ph_min, ph_max, drought_tolerance, time_to_first_harvest_months, height_min_m, height_max_m, soil_texture_preference, nitrogen_fixer)
- GBIF — Phaseolus lunatus L. (accepted, key 5350438) (external_ids)
External references
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