Japanese name: インゲンマメ（隠元豆） Scientific name:Phaseolus vulgaris
[Overview]
An annual, either climbing or herbaceous without vines.
Leaves are alternate and trifoliate, with entire margins.
Inflorescences shorter than the leaf stalks arise from the leaf axils, each bearing 2–3 pea-shaped flowers that are white to cream or pale purple.
A characteristic of the flower is that the keel petal enclosing the stamens and pistil makes one full spiral turn.
The fruit is a flat or cylindrical pod.
[History]
It is said to have been brought to Japan in 1654 (Joo 3) by the Ming monk Ingen, but there is also a theory that this bean was actually Fuji-mame, so it is uncertain.
The types now cultivated are cultivars introduced from Europe and America after the Meiji period, or cultivars improved from them.
[Uses]
The young pods, young seeds (beans) and fully ripe seeds are eaten.
The seeds and roots are used medicinally.
[Cultivation]
It prefers a somewhat cool environment, and as long as the site is sunny and well drained it is not particular about soil.
At temperatures of 25°C or above, flowers and pods tend to drop.
