Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Other names: beans

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), also known as the kidney bean, is a plant native to the Americas, where it was an important part of the diet of indigenous peoples before the arrival of Europeans. It is an annual crop of the legume family which is now cultivated virtually all over the world. The bean is used both when ripe, when it is particularly rich in protein, and as a vegetable, when the unripe pods are eaten.

Common beans are used in a wide range of food products. Raw, it is an important ingredient in a wide range of salads and other cold dishes. Cooked beans are the basis of many soups, side dishes, sauces and other hot dishes, and are a popular part of cuisines from Mexico to the Mediterranean to East Asia. Dry beans in particular are also ground into flour, which is used as a thickening agent. In addition, the beans are made into various types of fodder, with the remaining husks and stems used as animal feed. The common bean is also used in the cosmetics industry, as it is a component of some skin creams and masks.