Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Buncis (Phaseolus vulgaris) is an erect or climbing annual herb from the Fabaceae family that originates from Mexico and Central America, nicknamed 'poor man's meat' for its high protein content through natural nitrogen fixation. Its young pods are commonly cooked as a vegetable worldwide. In Benin, juice from crushed buncis leaves is traditionally used to treat wounds.

Buncis is usually found at elevations above 600 m asl, although good plants can be obtained down to sea level. Temperatures in the range of 19-27 °C are preferred, above 30 °C many flowers will drop, and above 35 °C seeds are rarely produced. The climbing plant form can succeed in high-rainfall areas, requiring a warm, sunny position in fertile, well-drained soil, preferring light soil with plenty of moisture during the growing season. Does not like heavy, wet, or acidic soil. Grows well in reasonably heavy loamy soil provided it is well-drained. Prefers a pH in the range of 5.5 to 6.5.

• Roots taproot, dirty yellow.
• Stem upright, round, soft, twining or climbing, green.
• Leaves compound, trifoliolate, square-stalked, leaf blade elliptical, 8-13 x 5-9 cm, base rounded, tip tapering, margin smooth, dark green, secondary veins pinnate.
• Flowers compound, raceme-shaped, emerging from the leaf axil. Has a stalk with a length of ± 5 cm and purplish-green color, calyx triangular, hairy, 2-3 cm long, corolla butterfly-shaped and purple, stamens fused, pistil hairy, purple.
• Fruit pod type, ± 10 cm long, green when young, brown when old.
• Seeds elliptical, smooth surface, glossy, white.

• Propagation generatively (seeds). Soak seeds for 12 hours in warm water and sow where the plant will be grown.
• Germination occurs within 10 days. Optimal soil temperature for germination is 18-20 °C.

Alkaloid, anthocyanin, catechin, flavonoid (quercetin), glycoside, phasin, phytic acid, saponin polyphenol, steroid, tannin, and terpenoid.

Treats acne, wounds, burns, diabetes, diarrhea, edema, dysentery, eczema, sciatica, tenesmus, eases difficult childbirth, treatment of infertility, fever, bee stings, body odor, facilitates umbilical cord separation from newborns, helps stimulate babies who cannot breastfeed, treats pharyngitis, treatment of bee stings and vaginal infections, treats obesity or overweight. Beans are considered depurative, solvent, carminative, diuretic, antidiarrheal, emollient.

• Take fresh buncis leaves and wash until clean.
• Dry the leaves under direct sunlight or using an oven.
• Once the leaves are completely dry, blend finely and sieve to obtain a powder.
• Store in a well-closed container protected from light to maintain the quality of the preparation.

Kacang buncis, Kacang kapok (Sunda), Boncis, Buncis (Java).