velvet bean

American  

noun

1. a vine, Mucuna deeringiana, of the legume family, having long clusters of purplish flowers and densely hairy pods, grown in warm regions for forage or as an ornamental.

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Etymology

Origin of velvet bean

An Americanism dating back to 1895–1900

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

velvet bean

In spite of vigorous search, the native home of the Florida velvet bean yet remains unknown, but it is probably in the Indo-Malayan region of Southern Asia.

From Florida: An Ideal Cattle State by Association, Florida State Live Stock

In some instances, on the roots of the velvet bean they grow in clusters as large as an ordinary potato.

From Clovers and How to Grow Them by Shaw, Thomas

The story of the velvet bean is really one of the romances of agriculture.

From Florida: An Ideal Cattle State by Association, Florida State Live Stock

Finally, it has resulted in a new industry for the South, namely, the manufacture of velvet bean meal, which has already won for itself a large demand.

From Florida: An Ideal Cattle State by Association, Florida State Live Stock

These early sports of the old Florida are most grown, but the Chinese velvet bean, introduced by the Department, and the hybrids developed by the Florida Experiment Station, are important.

From Florida: An Ideal Cattle State by Association, Florida State Live Stock