winged bean
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A tropical leguminous plant: A climbing annual vine (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) cultivated for its edible seeds, pods, leaves, and tubers. It is characterized by its distinctive four-angled pods with frilly edges. 2. The edible seed or pod of this plant: The nutritious bean produced by the winged bean plant, consumed as a vegetable.
Usage and Examples
- The winged bean is a highly versatile crop, as almost every part of the plant can be eaten.
- Farmers in Southeast Asia often grow winged beans on trellises to support their twining vines.
- For dinner, we had a salad made with fresh, young winged beans.
Advanced Usage
- "Four-angled bean" or "Goa bean": These are alternative common names for the winged bean, referring to the shape of its pod or a region where it is cultivated.
- As a cover crop: Due to its nitrogen-fixing ability, the winged bean is sometimes planted to improve soil fertility.
Variants and Related Words
- Asparagus pea (): A different plant with similar winged pods, sometimes confused with the winged bean.
- Legume: The broader family of plants to which the winged bean belongs.
- Psophocarpus tetragonolobus: The scientific (botanical) name for the winged bean.
Synonyms
- Goa bean
- Four-angled bean
- Manila bean
Related Phrases and Contexts
- Winged bean tuber: Refers specifically to the edible, tuberous roots of the plant.
- Winged bean pod: Specifies the distinctive, winged fruit of the plant used as a vegetable.
Noun
- a tuberous twining annual vine bearing clusters of purplish flowers and pods with four jagged wings; Old World tropics