Difference Between French Beans and Lentils

1. Leaf Difference

The leaves of green beans are opposite, simple, nearly heart-shaped, with terminal leaflets that are broadly ovate or diamond-shaped, about 4 to 16 cm long and 3 to 11 cm wide. The leaf tips are acute, the base is rounded or broadly cuneate, the veins on both sides are pubescent, and the leaflets growing on the sides are oblique.

The leaves of lentil are pinnately compound, with leaflets broadly triangular-ovate, 6 to 10 cm long, about as wide as they are long, with lateral leaflets of unequal size on both sides, and acute or acuminate at the apex.

2. Flower Differences

The green bean has a raceme inflorescence, with flowers growing at the top of the peduncle. The bracts are oblique, and the corolla is white, yellow, lavender or purple, about 1.5 to 2 cm long.

The bean has a raceme of 15 to 25 cm long, with a thick axis, a white or purple corolla, and round petals.

3. Fruit Difference

The pods of green beans are linear, slightly swollen, 10 to 15 cm long, about 1 cm wide, hairless, and straight or slightly curved. 4 to 8 seeds.

The pods of lentils are oblong sickle-shaped, flat, wide near the top, about 5 to 7 cm long and about 1.4 to 1.8 cm wide. 3 to 5 seeds.