(Phaseolis vulgaris)
Fabaceae family
Beans originated in the New World, where they were domesticated independently by 5000 B.C. in both Mesoamerica and the Andes. They are highly polymorphic, with the most important types being green or string beans (top left), black beans (top center), kidney beans (top right), navy beans (bottom left), red beans (bottom center), and pinto beans (bottom right). Beans are a warm-season crop. They are high in protein and carbohydrates, and form an important component of the indigenous diet of Latin America due to their high content of essential sulfur-containing amino acids. Pinto beans are the main component of refried beans used in the ubiquitous burrito. Beans are also important in that their roots harbor atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium.