Taxonomic notes: In its wild form, Phaseolus lunatus L. is a primary wild relative of Lima bean, the cultivated form of the species.

Phaseolus lunatus is native to many parts of northern and southern America, and is widely naturalized and cultivated elsewhere (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program 2015).

ABUNDANT AND STABLE?

It grows from sea level to 1,600 m, predominantly along stream banks and in moist areas in deciduous tropical pine–oak, Bombacaceae, Cesalpinoideae or Mimosoideae forests, where it is usually found in thickets and climbing over shrubs or small trees (Freytag and Debouck 2002). It often invades areas clear-cut for coffee, sugar cane, cotton or corn cultivation and can be found growing along fences and paths, and even on sand dunes near beaches. It is more common in places inaccessible to grazing animals, usually on well-drained or quite steep slopes. Soils are variable from black clay to brown friable to rocky and sandy, and variously derived from basalt, volcanic ash, limestone, metamorphic schists or volcanic rock (Freytag and Debouck 2002).

P. lunatus (Lima bean) is cultivated widely (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program 2015). It is a primary wild relative of, and potential gene donor to the crop (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program 2015).

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Phaseolus lunatus is widespread, occurs at a wide altitudinal range from sea level to 1,600 m, and has the ability to invade disturbed areas. It is therefore assessed as Least Concern.

• USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program. 2015. Germplasm Resources Information Network - (GRIN) [Online Database]. National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland. Available at: http://www.ars-grin.gov/.