vigna

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of leguminous plants, of the tribe Phaseoleæ and subtribe Euphaseoleæ. It is distinguished from the type genus (Phaseolus) by the absence of a beak upon the keel-petals, or by the failure of the beak, if developed, to form a perfect spiral. There are about 45 species, natives of warm regions of both hemispheres. They are usually twining or prostrate herbs, with pinnate leaves of three leaflets, and yellowish or rarely purplish flowers in a short, cluster upon an axillary peduncle, followed by cylindrical pods which become greatly elongated—sometimes, it is said, a yard long. For V. Catiang, universally cultivated in the tropics, and now also in southern parts of Europe and the United States, see chowlee, and cow-pea (under pea); its typical form is low and somewhat erect; when tall and climbing, it has been known as V. Sinensis. V. lanceolata of Australia, also edible, produces, besides the ordinary cylindrical pods, others from buried flowers fruiting under ground, and resembling the peanut. V. luteola is known as seaside bean, and V. unguiculata as red bean, in the West Indies. One species occurs in the United States, V. glabra, a yellow-flowered hirsute twiner of brackish marshes from South Carolina to Mississippi.

Wiktionary

1. n. botany Any of the genus Vigna of fabaceous plants, including a number of cultivated legumes.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. genus of vines or erect herbs having trifoliate leaves and yellowish or purplish flowers; of warm or tropical regions; most species often placed in genus Phaseolus