hyacinth bean
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A perennial climbing plant: A long-lived, twining vine native to the Old World tropics, characterized by groups of three leaves (trifoliate), clusters of fragrant, purple, pea-shaped flowers, and dark red pods containing edible seeds. It is cultivated both for ornamental purposes and as a vegetable crop, particularly in the Indian subcontinent.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The hyacinth bean vine covered the trellis with beautiful purple flowers.
- In many parts of Asia, the young pods and seeds of the hyacinth bean are cooked and eaten.
- Gardeners value the hyacinth bean for its rapid growth and attractive blooms.
Advanced Usage
- Scientific Classification: The plant is primarily known by the botanical name . It was formerly classified under the genus , leading to the synonym .
Variants and Related Words
- Lablab (n): The common name for the genus to which the hyacinth bean belongs.
- Bonavist bean (n): Another common name for the hyacinth bean.
- Indian bean (n): A regional name reflecting its culinary use on the Indian subcontinent.
- Egyptian bean (n): A regional name for this plant.
Synonyms
- Lablab bean: A direct synonym derived from its scientific name.
- Field bean: A name sometimes used in agricultural contexts.
Notes on Different Meanings
The term "hyacinth bean" refers specifically to the plant Lablab purpureus. It should not be confused with the ornamental flowering plant commonly known as the "hyacinth" (genus Hyacinthus), which is a bulbous plant and not a legume vine.
Noun
- 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