What Are the Scientific Names of Beans?

According to Online Gardener Tips, there's a variety of different names that scientists use when they refer to beans. These names include:

Phaseolus vulgaris
Frijoles negro
Phaseolus limensis
Phaseolus lunatus
Vicia faba major
Phaseolus coccineus
Glycine max
Phaseolus acutifolius
Phaseolus angularis

These are the scientific names for beans that people most commonly come into contact with during their daily lives. Can you guess which type of beans each one refers to? Try to, and then we will give you the answers below.

About the Types of Beans

Phaseolus Vulgaris

You probably noticed that a lot of the beans' scientific names start with the word "phaseolus." This is the case because phaseolus vulgaris actually refers to all beans in general. Basically, all beans fit into this category. However, they are divided into subcategories based upon their color.

Frijoles Negro

If you speak Spanish, you most likely have already figured out which type of bean this scientific name refers to. Yes, the black bean is correct! These little beans are the ones that tend to come as a side dish at a Mexican restaurant.

Phaseolus Limensis

Here's another bean where the standard American English name is hidden within the scientific one. That's correct - this name refers to the popular lima bean.

Phaseolus Lunatus

While the phases of the moon might pop into your head with this creative identifier, phaseolus lunatus is actually how scientists refer to the butter bean. In fact, butter beans are actually a type of lima bean; therefore, they belong to both the subcategory mentioned above, as well as this distinct one of their own.

Vicia Faba Major

Here we have a scientific name for a bean that also goes by the name of "horse bean." These beans are often eaten as snacks, at least partially due to their crunchy texture and salty taste (think potato chips!). They are quite popular in China.

Phaseolus Coccineus

The plants of these beans, commonly known as the runner bean, are quite vibrant and beautiful. Both the beans and the roots of this plant are used for food.

Glycine Max

This is the scientific name for the soy bean, a type of bean that has been considered to be a part of a healthy diet. From the soy bean we get nutrients, as well as important grocery store products such as soy milk.

Phaseolus Acutifolius

This bean, commonly known as the tepary bean, hails from dessert-like conditions and does not require a lot of water in order to grow. In the scientific community, you might also hear this bean referred to as the latifolius.

Phaseolus Angularis

This scientific name refers to two types of native beans of China and Japan, which are known as Adzuki or Azuki beans. These two types of beans are known by the name of phaseolus angularis in the scientific community.

Now that you know how scientists refer to these different types of beans, you can impress your gardener friends with your knowledge or take your research of bean names to a whole new level.