Phaseoloid

Phaseoloid refers to a lineage within the legume family that is recognized in plant systematics as a clade of the tribe Phaseoleae, within the subfamily Faboideae. The term is used to describe a group of related genera traditionally associated with the Phaseolus lineage, most notably including Phaseolus (the true beans), Vigna (which contains crops such as mung bean, cowpea, and adzuki bean), and Lablab (hyacinth bean). The exact composition of the phaseoloid group can vary among authors and across phylogenetic studies, with some treatments extending the clade to include additional related genera, while others adopt a more restricted definition focused on the core Phaseolus–Vigna–Lablab lineages.

Members of the phaseoloid group are predominantly tropical and subtropical in distribution and are often herbaceous climbers or twining plants, though growth forms can vary. They typically produce pods that are characteristic of many legumes and bear compound leaves with multiple leaflets. Several phaseoloid species are of major agricultural importance, especially Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean), Vigna radiata (mung bean), and Vigna unguiculata (cowpea), which are cultivated for their edible seeds and pods.

In phylogenetic discussions, the phaseoloid clade is placed within the broader Phaseoleae tribe of the Faboideae subfamily. Molecular studies using chloroplast and nuclear markers have helped to clarify relationships within this group, though ongoing research continues to refine its boundaries and membership. The term is primarily used in systematic botany and evolutionary biology rather than in everyday horticulture, where genera and species are typically referred to by their standard genus names.