Green bean
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is a leguminous plant with a huge number of varieties which, in dietary terms, can be placed in two categories: shell beans and snap beans, in other words those harvested when completely ripe and the seeds eaten, and those harvested when the pod is small and tender, eaten whole, such as French beans or cornette.
There are two types of plant: climbers, which can reach a considerable height (hence the legend of the magic beanstalk) and dwarf varieties.
Beans originated in the Americas and were imported to Europe in the 16th century.
CURIOSITY
Raw beans, and their unripe fruit (the beans themselves) can cause poisoning, especially in children, due to the presence of phasin, a toxic protein which is completely eliminated by long cooking.
