Tag: Phaseolus lunatus

The Patani, a legume widely known in the Philippines, is often mistaken for a pea, yet it belongs to an entirely different species. The definitive answer is that the Patani vegetable is a type of bean, specifically the lima bean, with distinct botanical characteristics that set it apart from peas.

Over 9,000 years ago, what we now call lima beans were cultivated in Peru, yet many still ask what's the difference between a butter bean and a lima bean. The answer lies not in their genetics, but in a mixture of geography, variety, and maturity.

Lima beans, known scientifically as *Phaseolus lunatus*, have been cultivated in Peru for over 9,000 years and belong to the Fabaceae family, a lineage that connects them to countless other edible beans. This botanical classification places them squarely in the legume category alongside many familiar kitchen staples.

Did you know that despite their distinct names and reputations, the butterbean and lima bean are the same species, *Phaseolus lunatus*? The key differences that lead to confusion are regional naming conventions and the bean's stage of maturity at harvest.

According to botanists, butter beans and lima beans are from the exact same species, *Phaseolus lunatus*, meaning the 'American version' of butter beans is simply lima beans. The distinction between the two names is primarily geographical and based on the maturity of the bean when harvested. This labeling and culinary tradition varies across different regions of the United States and the United Kingdom.