There are more than 100 varieties of beans that are distinguished from each other by the shape, colour, taste and nutritious value. Most of them have edible pods, eaten as a vegetable. Within the species of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) two subspecies are distinguished: pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. vulgaris) and dwarf beans (Phaseolus vulgaris var. nanus). Pole beans usually have a thicker and flatter pod than dwarf beans. The chief varieties of each sub-group are the following:

a) Creeping beans for fresh consumption (known in Spain as " green beans’ because they are consumed physiologically unripe)

"Buenos Aires": Variety of average cycle. Flat, straight pods, around 15-18 cm long and 2-2.5 cm wide, of a green colour. Globose, cream-coloured seed mottled with brown,.
’Iluro’: A selection of the previous variety, with better quality and productive capacity.
"Zondra’: Similar to the previous, but with longer pods and larger production.
"Garrafal Oro’: Mid-early variety, quite high habit and abundant foliage. Green pods, 18-20 cm. long and 1.5 cm wide, flat and somewhat curved. Large, oblong seeds of golden cream colour.
"Esmeralda’: Average cycle. Vigorous. 26-27 cm long and 1.5-2 cm wide pods. Highly productive. White-coloured seed.
"Perfección blanca’: Variety for consumption in fresh and for preserves. Straight, fleshy, cylindrical pods and without fibres, approximately 15-16 cm long. White colour seed.
"Maravilla de Venecia’: Late variety. Flat, straight yellow pods, 15-18 cm long. Black and round seed.

b) Bushy bean plant for consumption in fresh (known in Spain as " green beans’ because they are consumed physiologically unripe)

"Contendes": Precocious variety. Cylindrical, long, green pods. Cream-coloured, slender seed. Productive.
"Garrafal enana’: Mid-late variety. Flat, bent pods of green colour. White seed of average length.
"Manteca de los mercados": Mid-early variety. Elliptical, straight, long pods of yellow colour. Black seeds of kidney shape.
"Rocquencourt": Mid-early variety. Elliptical, long yellow pods. Black, slender seeds.

c) Creeping beans for grain (consumed dried and known under the term of " string bean’).

"De Soissons blanca Trepadora’: Seed around 18 mm long. Late variety
"Blanca de España’: Plant with thick foliage. Flat pods, not very long. White seed, long and somewhat flat.
"Ganxet mata alta’: Vigorous plant. White, kidney-shaped seed. Highly appreciated. It is cultivated to be harvested in autumn.

d) Bushy bean plant for grain (consumed dried and known under the term of " string bean’).

"Ganxet mata baja’: Precocious variety. Vigorous plant. White, kidney-shaped seed It is cultivated to be harvested in summer.
"Suiza blanca para grano’: Rustic plant o great vigor. Good resistance to diseases. Productive.
"Enana Borlottina or "Reina’: Highly productive, precocious variety. Seed mottled in red.