I was walking along side a field in East Lothian and noticed a crop which I did not recognise. Unfortunately did not have a camera with me. The unripe crop looked like a small broad bean, with a couple of green beans inside. The ripe crop (least I think that it was ripe) had a very black, crisp pod, with the bean inside a fawn colour. The whole field look as if the crop had been singed. The stalk on which these pods where growing where about a couple of feet tall. I am just curious to know what it is and what it was used for. Othere fields around the area were growing barley.
Would it be soybeans? ::)
Could be field bean grown as a fodder crop and/or green manure. Closely related to Broadies.
Soy/Soya is not really viable as a crop in our climate.
Sounds like field bean.
Could be Field Beans 8)
Yes, it seems it was field bean. I searched on Google for "field bean" and was able to identify the crop. Now next time I go walking with my friends I shall be "all knowledgeable". Many thanks for your help. Great this site, isn't it!