View source for Vicia faba

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Vicia faba''
| image = Tuinboon bontbloeiend.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Vicia faba'' plants in flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| tribus = [[Vicieae]]
| genus = ''[[Vicia]]''
| species = '''''V. faba'''''
| binomial = ''Vicia faba''
| binomial_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
}}
{{EH}}

==Overview==
'''''Vicia faba''''', the '''[[broad bean]]''', '''[[fava bean]]''', '''[[faba bean]]''', '''[[horse bean]]''', '''[[field bean]]''', '''[[tic bean]]''' is a species of [[legume|bean]] ([[Fabaceae]]) native to north [[Africa]] and southwest [[Asia]], and extensively cultivated elsewhere. Although usually classified in the same genus ''[[Vicia]]'' as the [[Vicia|vetches]], some botanists treat it in a separate monotypic genus as ''Faba sativa'' Moench.

[[Image:Tuinboon zaden in peul.jpg|left|thumb|Broad beans in the pod]]
It is a rigid, erect plant 0.5-1.7 m tall, with stout stems with a square cross-section. The [[leaf|leaves]] are 10-25 cm long, pinnate with 2-7 leaflets, and of a distinct glaucous grey-green colour; unlike most other vetches, the leaves do not have tendrils for climbing over other vegetation. The [[flower]]s are 1-2.5 cm long, with five petals, the standard petal white, the wing petals white with a black spot (true black, not deep purple or blue as is the case in many "black" colourings [http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi/t/text/pageviewer-idx?sid=75ed643231a8cab76743747215fd6ab6&idno=2731628&c=chla&cc=chla&q1=Cheiranthus&seq=51&view=image]), and the keel petals white. The [[fruit]] is a broad leathery pod, green maturing blackish-brown, with a densely downy surface; in the wild species, the pods are 5-10 cm long and 1 cm diameter, but many modern [[cultivar]]s developed for food use have pods 15-25 cm long and 2-3 cm thick. Each pod contains 3-8 [[seed]]s; round to oval and 5-10 mm diameter in the wild plant, usually flattened and up to 20-25 mm long, 15 mm broad and 5-10 mm thick in food cultivars. Vicia faba has a diploid (2n) chromosome number of 12, meaning that each cell in the plant has 12 chromosomes (6 homologous pairs). Five pairs are [[acrocentric]] chromosomes and 1 pair is [[metacentric]].

==Cultivation and uses==
Broad beans have a long tradition of cultivation in [[Old World]] [[agriculture]], being among the most ancient plants in cultivation and also among the easiest to grow. It is believed that along with [[lentil]]s, [[peas]], and [[chickpea]]s, they became part of the eastern [[Mediterranean]] diet in around [[6000 BC]] or earlier. They are still often grown as a [[cover crop]] to prevent [[erosion]] because they can over-winter and because as a [[legume]], they fix [[nitrogen]] in the soil. These commonly cultivated plants can be attacked by fungal diseases, such as Rust (Uromyces viciae-fabae) and Chocolate Spot (Botrytis fabae).

[[Image:Tuinboon voor zaad.jpg|left|thumb|Mature field bean pods]]
In much of the [[Anglophone]] world, the name '''broad bean''' is used for the large-seeded cultivars grown for human food, while '''horse bean''' and '''field bean''' refer to cultivars with smaller, harder seeds (more like the wild species) used for animal feed, though their stronger flavour is preferred in some human food recipes, such as [[falafel]]. The term '''fava bean''' (from the [[Italian language|Italian]] ''fava'', meaning "bean") is its most common name in the United States, with '''Broad Bean''' being the most common name in the UK.

==Culinary uses==
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[[Image:Broad-beans-after-cooking.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Broad beans, shelled and lightly steamed for 3 minutes.]]
Broad beans are eaten while still young and tender, enabling harvesting to begin as early as the middle of spring for plants started under glass or over-wintered in a protected location, but even the maincrop sown in early spring will be ready from mid to late summer. Horse beans, left to mature fully, are usually harvested in the late autumn.

The beans can be fried, causing the skin to split open, and then salted and/or spiced to produce a savory crunchy snack. These are popular in China, Peru (habas saladas), Mexico ''(habas con chile)'' and in Thailand (where their name means "open-mouth nut").

In the [[Sichuan cuisine]] of [[China]], broad beans are combined with [[soybean]]s and [[chili peppers]] to produce a spicy fermented bean paste called ''[[doubanjiang]]''.

In most Arab countries the fava bean is used for a breakfast meal called [[ful medames]]. Ful medames is usually crushed fava beans in a sauce although the Fava beans do not have to be crushed.

==Health issues==
Broad beans are rich in [[tyramine]], and thus should be avoided by those taking [[monoamine oxidase inhibitor|monoamine oxidase (MAOI) inhibitor]]s.

Raw broad beans contain [[vicine]], [[isouramil]] and [[convicine]], which can induce [[hemolytic anemia]] in patients with the hereditary condition [[glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency]] (G6PD). This potentially fatal condition is called "favism" after the fava bean.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scienzavegetariana.it/nutrizione/favabeans.html | title=Fava Beans, Levodopa, and Parkinson's Disease | author=Kathrynne Holden}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/05-96/05-29-96/c01li096.htm | author=Russ Parsons | title=The Long History of the Mysterious Fava Bean}}</ref>

Broad beans are rich in [[levodopa|L-dopa]], a substance used medically in the treatment of [[Parkinson's disease]]. L-dopa is also a natriuretic agent, which might help in controlling [[hypertension]].<ref>Vered Y, Grosskopf I, Palevitch D, Harsat A, Charach G, Weintraub MS, Graff E. The influence of Vicia faba (broad bean) seedlings on urinary sodium excretion. ''Planta Med'' 1997;63:237-40. PMID 9225606.</ref> Some also use fava beans as a natural alternative to drugs like [[Viagra]], citing a link between L-dopa production and the human [[libido]].<ref>Emmerson, Kassidy. "Natural Remedies for Loss of Sex Drive." Associated Content, July 20, 2006. http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/44706/natural_remedies_for_loss_of_sexual.html.</ref>
The Broad beans is widely cultivated in district Kech and Panjgur of Balochistan Province of Pakistan and eastern province of Iran. In Balochi language it is called Bakalaink and Baqala in Persian The elders generally restrict the young children from eating it raw(when unmatured)because it can cause constipation and jaundice like symptoms.

==Other uses==
* In ancient [[Greece]] and [[Rome]], beans were used in voting; a white bean being used to cast a ''yes'' vote, and a black bean for ''no''.
* In [[Ubykh people|Ubykh]] culture, throwing beans on the ground and interpreting the pattern in which they fall was a common method of divination ([[favomancy]]), and the word for "bean-thrower" in that language has become a generic term for seers and soothsayers in general.
* In [[Italy]], broad beans are traditionally sown on [[November 2]], [[All Souls Day]]. Small cakes made in the shape of broad beans (though not of them) are known as ''fave dei morti'' or "beans of the dead". According to tradition, [[Sicily]] once experienced a failure of all crops other than the beans; the beans kept the population from starvation, and thanks were given to [[Saint Joseph]]. Broad beans subsequently became traditional on [[Saint Joseph's Day]] altars in many Italian communities. Some people carry a broad bean for good [[luck]]; some believe that if one carries a broad bean, one will never be without the essentials of life. In [[Rome]], on the first of May Roman families traditionally eat  fresh fava beans with [[Pecorino Romano]] cheese during a daily excursion in the [[Roman Campagna|Campagna]].
* In [[Portugal]] a Christmas Cake called [[Bolo Rei]] is baked with a "Fava" bean inside.
* In ancient [[Greece]] and [[Rome]], beans were used as a food for the dead, such as during the annual [[Feast of the Lemures|Lemuria]] festival. In some folk legends, such as in [[Estonia]] and the common [[Jack and the Beanstalk]] story, magical beans grow tall enough to bring the hero to the clouds. The [[Grimm Brothers]] collected a story in which a bean splits its sides laughing at the failure of others. Dreaming of a bean is sometimes said to be a sign of impending conflict, though others said that they caused bad dreams. [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] claimed that they acted as a [[laxative]]. European folklore also claims that planting beans on [[Good Friday]] or during the night brings good luck.

==Cultural references==
[[Image:Illustration Vicia faba1.jpg|right|thumb|Plate showing broad beans, from Thomé, ''Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz'', 1885.]]
* The name and modern term [[Fabian]] derives from this bean.
* In the 1992  videogame [[OutRunners]], an [[anthropomorphic]] broad bean character is featured on billboards and the start of the game called "Broad Bean," a parody of [[Bibendum]] (the Michelin man), presumably the mascot of the fictional company sponsoring the race, Sam Spree.
* In the film ''[[The Silence of the Lambs (film)|The Silence of the Lambs]]'', [[Hannibal Lecter]] mentions that he once ate the liver of a census taker "with some fava beans and a nice [[Chianti]]."

==References==
<references/>
* Dr D. G. Hessayon (2003). ''The Vegetable & Herb Expert''. Expert Books. ISBN 0-903505-46-0

==External links==
{{commons|Vicia faba|Vicia faba}}
* [http://www.fava-beans.com http://fava-beans.com - Pictures and information about fava/broad bean topics] 
* [http://www.nutritiondata.com/facts-001-02s02cd.html Complete nutritional info.]
* http://gears.tucson.ars.ag.gov/book/chap4/broad.html
* http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Vicia_faba.html
* http://www.kitchengarden.co.za/favabeans.html
* [http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/fababean.html Alternative Field Crops Manual]
* [http://www.foodsdatabase.com/LinkedLabel.aspx?FoodId=20293 Nutrition facts]

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[[Category:Medicinal plants]]

[[ay:Jawasa]]
[[ca:Fava]]
[[cs:Bob obecný]]
[[de:Ackerbohne]]
[[el:Κουκιά]]
[[es:Vicia faba]]
[[eo:Fabo]]
[[fr:Fève]]
[[hsb:Konjacy bob]]
[[it:Vicia faba]]
[[he:פול]]
[[lt:Pupa]]
[[nl:Tuinboon]]
[[nds-nl:Platte peters]]
[[ja:ソラマメ]]
[[pl:Bób]]
[[pt:Fava]]
[[qu:Chaqullu]]
[[ru:Боб садовый]]
[[fi:Härkäpapu]]
[[sv:Åkerböna]]
[[th:ถั่วปากอ้า]]
[[tr:Bakla]]
[[uk:Біб кінський]]
[[zh:蚕豆]]

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