Indian bean

/ˌɪndiən bin/

Other forms: Indian beans

Definitions of Indian bean

1. 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
   synonyms: Dolichos lablab, Egyptian bean, Lablab purpureus, bonavist, hyacinth bean

   type of:

   vine

   a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
2. noun

   tree of the genus Catalpa with large leaves and white flowers followed by long slender pods
   synonyms: catalpa

   types:

   Catalpa bignioides

   catalpa tree of southern United States

   Catalpa speciosa

   catalpa tree of central United States

   type of:

   bean tree

   any of several trees having seedpods as fruits