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[Bean Growth Habits] [Different Names for Beans in Latin America]

Bean Growth Habits

Growth habit is one of the most important characteristics for classifying bean varieties from the agronomic viewpoint. However, there are several superposing empirical classifications. People talk about bush beans, climbing beans, erect beans, and prostrated beans. Beans are morphologically classified as determinate or indeterminate depending on whether the terminal meristem is reproductive (determinate) or vegetative (indeterminate). This characteristic is genetically controlled. CIAT has designed a widely accepted classification scheme based on the former characteristic and on the type of plant development. The relationship between all these different classifications is shown below.

Different Classification Criteria of Bean Growth Habits

Genetics

CIAT

Popular

Simplified

Refined

Refined

Simplified

Determinate


I

Ia

Erect Bush


Bush

Ib
 


Indeterminate


II

IIa

IIb

Semi Climbing

  

Climbing


III

IIIa

IIIb

Climbing or Voluble


IV

IVa

IVb



Different Names for Beans in Latin America

The species Phaseolus vulgaris L. has several names in Spanish-speaking countries: frijol, fríjol, frisol, fréjol, frejol, poroto, habichuela, habilla, caraota, judía, alubia, and chuwi. The most widespread term is "frijol", which is used from Mexico to Panama, in Cuba, and in part of Peru. In Colombia it is known as "fríjol" and in the Antioquia region as "frisol". In Ecuador, it is called "fréjol", and in many regions of Peru, Bolivia, and Chile it is usually referred to as "frejol". The term "poroto", derived from Quechuan "purutu", is common in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Bolivia. In Peru, the term "poroto" is used in many cases associated with certain varietal names. In the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, the species Phaseolus vulgaris is called "habichuela". In Spain, the Arab word "Al loubia", which designates Vigna unguiculata, is used as "alubia" to refer to common beans.

The previous compilation of names is particularly important for Latin America, where different species of edible grain legumes are cultivated. Tables 1 and 2 show the different names given to beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and other related species in Latin America.

Table 1.

Names given to beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and other Phaseolus species in Latin America.

Term

Country

Common names of Phaseolus vulgaris L. consumed as dry grain

Caraota

Venezuela

Frejol

Bolivia, Chile, Peru

Fréjol

Ecuador

Frijol

Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Cuba, Peru

Fríjol

Colombia

Frísol

Colombia (Antioquia)
Feijão Brazil (name in Portuguese)

Habichuela

Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic

Habilla

Paraguay

Judía

Spain

Poroto

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Panama, Peru, Uruguay

Dry bean

Name in English

Common names of Phaseolus vulgaris L. consumed as vegetable

Chaucha

Argentina, Uruguay

Ejote

Mexico
Feijão-vagem Brazil (Name in Portuguese)

Habichuela

Colombia

Vainita

Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile

Tabla

Chile

Snap bean

Name in English

Common names of Phaseolus lunatus L.

Frijol Lima

Latin America

Frijol Manteca

Argentina
Feijão-fava Brazil (name in Portuguese)

Haba Pallar

Ecuador

Pallar

Peru

Lima bean

Name in English

Common names of Phaseolus coccineus L.

Ayocote

Mexico

Multiflorus

Latin America

Pallar

Argentina

Popayán

Ecuador

Runner bean

Name in English

Common names of Phaseolus polyanthus L.

Frijol Petaco

Colombia


Table 2.

Names of other non-Phaseolus food legumes species consumed in Latin America.

Term

Country

Common names of Vigna unguiculata L.

Caupí

Latin America

Cumandá

Bolivia, Paraguay

Chiclayo

Peru (jungle)
Feijão de Corda Brazil (name in Portuguese)

Frijol

Venezuela

Frijol de Costa

Central America

Frijol Camba

Bolivia

Frijol Castilla

Peru (coast)

Tumbe

Ecuador

Cowpea

Name in English

Common names of Vigna radiata L.

Frijol Mungo

Latin America

Frijolito Chino

Peru
Feijão-Mungo-Verde Brazil (name in Portuguese)

Loctao

Peru

Mung bean

Name in English

Comon names of Vigna angularis L.

Frijol Adzuki

Latin America
FeijãoAdzuki Brazil (name in Portuguese)

Adzuki bean

Name in English

Common names of Cajanus cajan L.

Frijol de Palo

Peru

Gandú

Ecuador

Gandul

Puerto Rico
Guandu Brazil (name in Portuguese)

Guandul

Dominican Republic

Quinchoncho

Venezuela

Pigeon pea

Name in English

Common names of Dolichos lablab

Zarandaja,
Lenteja Bocona
Frijol Chileno

Peru

Tapirano

Venezuela

Other commonly used terms related to legumes

Menestras

Dry grain legumes (Peru)

Dry edible beans (DEB)

In US these refer to beans, lima beans, cowpea, mung beans, chick-pea

Pulses

In US refers to dry grain legumes

 

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