hyacinth bean

American  

noun

1. an Old World tropical vine, Dolichos lablab, of the legume family, having purple or white flowers and black or white seeds in a papery, beaked pod.

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Example Sentences

European visitors swoon with desire and disbelief at the sight of the hyacinth bean, a purple-leafed vine resplendent in August with striking purple stems, flowers and seedpods.

From Washington Post

As pretty as the iridescent hyacinth bean is, I need a break from this diva.

From Washington Post

He has served up the flower of the caracalla bean and added the blooms of another vining legume, the hyacinth bean, into a risotto.

From Washington Post

The purple hyacinth bean differs from the scarlet runner bean in a couple of respects: It is a warm-season climber that laps up the heat.

From Washington Post