The Phaseolus reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Phaseolus

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 Phaseolus






 Scientific classification





 Kingdom: 
 Plantae


Division: 
Magnoliophyta


Class: 
Magnoliopsida


Order: 
 Fabales 


Family: 
 Fabaceae


Subfamily: 
Faboideae


 Genus: 
 Phaseolus




 Species


 
(examples)

Phaseolus vulgaris Common bean

Phaseolus lunatus Lima bean

Phaseolus coccineus Runner bean

Phaseolus acutifolius Tepary bean





Phaseolus is the genus to which the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris belongs.  The genus Phaseolus contains 55 species, 5 of which have been domesticated. All Phaseolus species originate in Meso America and have been cultivated for thousands of years by pre-Columbian civilizations.

Today, Phaseolus species are cultivated worldwide in both tropical, semi tropical and temperate climates.

Previous classifications placed in this genus a number of other well known species that have now been removed to genus Vigna, sometimes necessitating a change of species name.  For example, older literature refers to the Mung bean as Phaseolus aureus, whereas more modern sources classify it as Vigna radiata.

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