The Life Cycle of a... Lima Bean

Lima Bean Life Cycle Seed- A lima bean plant’s life cycle starts with the planting of a seed. Instead of growing inside a fruit, lima bean seeds grow inside a long, curved pod. Each seed, or bean, is flat and round. The bean has two identical sides. Between them is a tiny plant, or embryo. In order to grow, the seed has to be planted and watered.

Germination The water causes the small plant inside the bean to grow or germinate. Germination occurs when the tiny plant uses the food in the bean to grow. The hard shell (seed coat) around the lima bean bursts open and a root starts to grow downward from the bean into the ground. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=fPTJ3qD1ikk&NR=1

Seedling Slowly, the bean is lifted above the ground and a stem appears on the lima bean plant. Its roots help to anchor the plant to the ground. After several days, leaves appear on the stem and grow towards the sunlight. The plant becomes a seedling. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYzuug-Cs1w

Adult Plant Over time, the new plant becomes mature. It then produces buds at its growing tips. These buds eventually open into flowers on the plant. Bees and other flying insects rub pollen (a powdery substance) on the insides of the flowers of the plant.

Continued Lima pods with seeds begin to grow soon after. The ripe pods spring open and “shoot” the seeds out and away from the parent plant. If the seed falls to the ground, each may grow into a new plant. Then the cycle begins again. Continued

Lima Bean Life Cycle Seedling Adult Seed Germination

NOTES Life Cycle of a Lima Bean. The lima bean plant provides a good example of a typical plant life cycle. SEED- The organism starts off as a seed. GERMINATION- The seed begins to grow. SEEDLING-The bean is lifting above the ground. The first leaves start to appear. ADULT PLANT- The flowers of the adult plant will produce seeds.