Definition

1. Noun:
   • A perennial twining vine native to the Old World tropics, characterized by trifoliate leaves, racemes of fragrant purple pea-like flowers, and maroon pods containing edible seeds. It is cultivated both as an ornamental plant and as a vegetable crop, particularly on the Indian subcontinent. It is sometimes classified within the genus Dolichos.

Usage

• The term is used as the scientific or botanical name for a specific species of vine. It is primarily employed in formal, agricultural, botanical, and horticultural contexts to identify the plant precisely.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The garden featured a trellis covered with dolichos lablab.
  • Farmers in the region cultivate dolichos lablab for its nutritious seeds.

Advanced Usage

• In taxonomic discussions, the full binomial name is often used synonymously, with representing a former or alternative classification.

Variants and Related Words

• Hyacinth bean: The most common English name for this plant.
• Lablab bean: Another common name, derived from the currently accepted genus .
• Bonavist bean: A regional common name.
• Lablab purpureus: The currently accepted scientific binomial name for the species.

Synonyms

• Hyacinth bean
• Lablab bean
• Egyptian bean
• Indian bean

Notes

• This term is a compound noun consisting of two words: the genus name "Dolichos" and the species epithet "lablab." It functions as a single unit to name the plant species.

Noun

1. perennial twining vine of Old World tropics having trifoliate leaves and racemes of fragrant purple pea-like flowers followed by maroon pods of edible seeds; grown as an ornamental and as a vegetable on the Indian subcontinent; sometimes placed in genus Dolichos