Vicia faba

General Description:

Vicia faba a hardy, erect, simple-stemmed annual 1 mt. tall native of N. Africa and N.W. Asia, introduced into India and at present widely cultivated all over the country for the beans which are used as a vegetable. Leaves pinnate, leaflets 1-3 pairs, elliptic to oblong, 5-10cm long obtuse buyt apiculate; flowers in small racemes, white with large purplish blotches; pods variable, up to 40cm long, thick, up to 10 seeded; seeds brown, green, purplish, or black, much compressed.