Rice bean
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rice bean |
||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Vigna umbellata (Thunb.) Ohwi & H. Ohashi |
The rice bean is a small, hairy annual vine which bears yellow flowers and small edible beans. It is a minor food and fodder crop and occasionally a weed.
The English language name is a literal translation of the Chinese language name (Chinese: 飯豆; pinyin: fàndòu).
Seed color is variable, but commonly red or yellow. The red type is commonly named as 赤小豆 in Chinese, literally meaning 'red small bean'.
Although a separate species from the more common azuki bean, its appearance and uses are similar.