No picture :(.

It's really hard to tell from the picture there are so many beans that look similar. Are the pods smooth to the touch or do they have a slightly rough look and feel to them, if this is the case they be one of the runners (coccineus).

Annette

That pod looks pretty big. If the plants were growing "as a hedge", my first suspicion would be favas. If the plants are vines in a warmer climate, there are other possibilities. Knowing your geographical location, Leslie, would help to narrow it down. A closeup photo of the seeds - especially the hilum, where the seed attaches - would be helpful too.

Thanks to both Zeedman and Annette!!

I am in Costa Rica but this is quite clearly not a tropical plant, although beans are a staple die here (rice and beans)

Fava might be an obvious choice, but the beans would be almost square and a lot bigger. The pods are also "hairy"

This pod is smooth and between 9 and 10 inches long!

The plant is not a runner or vine.

Leslie, thank you for the photo & your location, it helps. I'm fairly certain that what you have is Jack Bean (Canavalia ensiformis), a bean which grows in tropical & sub-tropical regions. I have linked to a photo of the seed below, but a web search will show you flowers & pods as well.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jack bean

Researching this further, Jack Bean is indigenous to Central America, and the USDA has accessions collected in Costa Rica... so it would not be unusual to find it there.

Thanks so much for all the help. I have just returned from the site where I found the bean and I believe that you are quite right as to the variety.

I finally forund the owner of the land where the bean was growing and he told me that he planted the bean as a "wind-break".

London- You should probably make a thread on the Name That Plant! forum.

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/namegal

If you do be sure to include a pic of the trees leaves, bark, and the seedpod. It also helps to know where about in the world you are.

Rodney