Glycine max, commonly known as soy bean, is a cultivated legume of the family Fabaceae. In Sri Lanka it is grown as a crop rather than found in the wild, and its seed is the part used as food.
What does Glycine max look like?
Soy bean is an annual herbaceous plant, a growth habit typical of many cultivated members of the Fabaceae, the pea and bean family. Like other Fabaceae species, it produces pods containing seeds, and its roots typically host nitrogen-fixing bacteria in nodules, a trait common across the legume family.
Where does Glycine max grow in Sri Lanka?
The species is recorded in Sri Lanka only under cultivation. It is not known to occur as a naturalised or wild plant on the island, so any soy bean seen growing here is part of an agricultural planting rather than a spontaneous population.
What is it called in Sinhala?
In Sinhala, Glycine max is known as Soya bonchi (සෝයා බෝංචි) and also as Boo me (බූ මෑ). Its common English name is soy bean.
Can you eat Glycine max?
Yes. The seed is the edible part of this plant, and soy bean seed is a widely recognised food and protein source grown in many countries around the world.
| Attribute | Recorded detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Glycine max |
| Family | Fabaceae |
| English name | Soy bean |
| Sinhala / local name | Soya bonchi (සෝයා බෝංචි) / Boo me (බූ මෑ) |
| Status in Sri Lanka | Only under cultivation |
| Edible parts | Seed |
