Frijol de Lima (frijol ancho, judía de Lima, haba de Lima, pallar): 7-Year Lima
(Phaseolus lunatus)

Phaseolus lunatuses una leguminosa trepadora (indeterminada) o arbustiva (pseudodeterminada) de América Central y del Sur. Los tipos trepadores son vigorosos, perennes y alcanzan de 2 a 6 m de largo. Los cultivares de tipo arbustivo son anuales y alcanzan alturas de 0.25-1 m. Las hojas son trifoliadas, se presentan en forma alternada en el tallo y varían de pubescentes a glabras. La inflorescencia puede alcanzar los 15 cm de longitud y producir hasta 25 flores de color blanco a violeta. Las longitudes de las vainas son de 5 a 12 cm y contienen de 2 a 4 semillas cada una. La forma, el tamaño y el color de las vainas y las semillas son muy variables y dependen del cultivar.

Half white and pink beans.

This semi-perennial lima bean variety originated in Central America but has been bred in parts of East Africa and South Africa and is commonly used as a cover crop. The name comes from its ability to remain productive for several years. If grown along the ground, it can produce a 60 cm high mat of foliage that smothers weeds. It can also be trellised for easier seed harvest. The seeds are large, with distinctive red caps atop the seeds. In Mwenezi, Zimababwe, the Seven-Year Lima is planted around houses and grows atop roofs of homes away from foraging goats.

The unique quality of this lima bean is its ability to smother and suppress weeds while providing continual forage for animals, beans for human consumption, a perennial dense cover crop for tropical dry regions, and a green manure that adds nitrogen to the soil. Flowering begins 60-90 days after sowing. Occasional pruning is recommend to stimulate new vigorous growth and rejuvenate the mat. The ground can be completely covered in 60-75 days when sown every square-foot and temperatures are warm. Dry beans are ready for picking after 7-9 months. Susceptible to root-knot nematodes though it does continue to persist with infected roots.