Bean

Bean, any plant of the pulse family (especially genus Phaseolus), also called legumes, cultivated for its edible seeds, immature pods, or shoots. The high protein content of beans, and especially of soybeans, make them a staple item in the diets of many peoples as well as an important animal feed. Soybeans are also used for a growing range of industrial products including adhesives, plastics, and firefighting foam.