snailflower

[sneyl-flou-er]

noun

a tropical vine, Vigna caracalla, of the legume family, having fragrant, yellowish or purplish flowers, a segment of which is shaped like a snail's shell.

Origin of snailflower

First recorded in 1680–90; snail + flower

Also called corkscrew flower.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018