Vicia faba (Broad Bean)

An ancient crop originating in the eastern Mediterranean, this upright annual herb belongs to the pea family and grows about 2 to 6 feet tall. Its stout, hollow stems carry broad leaflets. Fragrant white flowers with dark markings develop into long pods containing large, protein-rich beans, eaten fresh or dried. It is also grown for animal feed and as a cover crop. Nitrogen-fixing root bacteria help enrich the soil. The beans can trigger serious anemia in people with inherited G6PD enzyme deficiency. It has naturalized in Colombia. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.