What is "phaseolus lunatus"

Sieva \Sie"va\, n. (Bot.) A small variety of the Lima bean ( Phaseolus lunatus).

Lima \Li"ma\ (l[=e]"m[.a] or l[imac]"m[.a]), n. The capital city of Peru, in South America. Lima bean. (Bot.)

1. A variety of climbing or pole bean ( Phaseolus lunatus), which has very large flattish seeds.

2. The seed of this plant, much used for food.

   Lima wood (Bot.), the beautiful dark wood of the South American tree C[ae]salpinia echinata.

Bean \Bean\ (b[=e]n), n. [OE. bene, AS. be['a]n; akin to D. boon, G. bohne, OHG. p[=o]na, Icel. baun, Dan. b["o]nne, Sw. b["o]na, and perh. to Russ. bob, L. faba.]

1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous herbs, chiefly of the genera Faba, Phaseolus, and Dolichos; also, to the herbs.

   Note: The origin and classification of many kinds are still doubtful. Among true beans are: the black-eyed bean and China bean, included in Dolichos Sinensis; black Egyptian bean or hyacinth bean, Dolichos Lablab; the common haricot beans, kidney beans, string beans, and pole beans, all included in Phaseolus vulgaris; the lower bush bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, variety nanus; Lima bean, Phaseolus lunatus; Spanish bean and scarlet runner, Phaseolus multiflorus; Windsor bean, the common bean of England, Faba vulgaris. [1913 Webster] As an article of food beans are classed with vegetables.

2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less resembling true beans. Bean aphis (Zo["o]l.), a plant louse ( Aphis fab[ae]) which infests the bean plant. Bean fly (Zo["o]l.), a fly found on bean flowers. Bean goose (Zo["o]l.), a species of goose ( Anser segetum). Bean weevil (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil that in the larval state destroys beans. The American species is Bruchus fab[ae]. Florida bean (Bot.), the seed of Mucuna urens, a West Indian plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida shore, and are often polished and made into ornaments. Ignatius bean, or St. Ignatius's bean (Bot.), a species of Strychnos. Navy bean, the common dried white bean of commerce; probably so called because an important article of food in the navy. Pea bean, a very small and highly esteemed variety of the edible white bean; -- so called from its size. Sacred bean. See under Sacred. Screw bean. See under Screw. Sea bean.

   1. Same as Florida bean.

   2. A red bean of unknown species used for ornament.

      Tonquin bean, or Tonka bean, the fragrant seed of Dipteryx odorata, a leguminous tree.

      Vanilla bean. See under Vanilla.

Phaseolus lunatus is a legume grown for its edible seeds. It is commonly known as the lima bean, butter bean, or sieva bean.