View source for Hyacinth Bean

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Hyacinth bean
| image = DolichosLablab3.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Hyacinth bean plant
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Faboideae]]
| tribus = [[Phaseoleae]]
| genus = ''[[Lablab]]''
| species = '''''L. purpureus'''''
| binomial = ''Lablab purpureus''
| binomial_authority = ([[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]) [[Robert Sweet (botanist)|Sweet]]
}}
The '''Hyacinth Bean''' (''Lablab purpureus'', [[syn.]] ''Dolichos lablab'' L., ''Dolichos purpureus'' L., ''Lablab niger'' Medikus, ''Lablab lablab'' (L.) Lyons, ''Vigna aristata'' Piper, and ''Lablab vulgaris'', L.) Savi. <ref>[http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Lablab.html#purpureus ''Lablab purpureus''] at Multilingual taxonomic information from the [[University of Melbourne]]</ref>), also called '''Indian Bean''' and '''Egyptian Bean''', is a species of [[bean]] in the family [[Fabaceae]] that is widespread as a food crop throughout the [[tropics]], especially in [[Africa]].  
[[Image:Lablab purpureus Steve Hurst 1.jpg|thumb|left|Seads of the purple hyacinth bean]]
The hyacinth bean grows as a [[vine]], producing purple [[flower]]s and striking electric-purple coloured [[seed]] pods. Pods and seeds may be [[poison]]ous due to high concentrations of [[cyanogenic]] [[glucoside]]s, and can only be eaten after prolonged boiling.

It is also grown as [[forage]] <ref>[http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/GBASE/data/Pf000047.HTM ''Lablab purpureus''] at [[FAO]]</ref> and as an [[ornamental plant]]. <ref>[http://www.mobot.org/gardeninghelp/plantfinder/Plant.asp?code=A114 ''Lablab purpureus''] at [[Missouri Botanical Garden]]</ref> In addition, this plant is also cited as a [[medicinal plant]] and a [[poisonous plant]]. <ref>[http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Lablab+purpureus Lablab purpureus] at [[Plants For A Future]]</ref> <ref>[http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Dolicla.htm Lablab purpureus] at [[North Carolina State University]]</ref>


== External links ==
{{commons|Lablab purpureus|Hyacinth bean}}
*[http://lakecounty.typepad.com/life_in_lake_county/2007/05/the_hyacinth_be.html The Hyacinth Bean] - Informative but non-scholarly essay on Hyacinth Bean history, uses, etymology.
*[http://www.moodindico.com/index.php?token=story&id=116 The Banglalore bean]
*Murphy, Andrea M.; Colucci, Pablo E.  [http://www.cipav.org.co/lrrd/lrrd11/2/colu.htm A tropical forage solution to poor quality ruminant diets: A review of Lablab purpureus] Livestock Research for Rural Development (11) 2 1999
*[http://www.foodsdatabase.com/LinkedLabel.aspx?FoodId=24128 Nutrition facts]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Faboideae]]
[[Category:Edible legumes]]
[[Category:Forages]]
[[Category:Medicinal plants]]
[[Category:Tropical agriculture]]
[[Category:Poisonous plants]]
[[Category:Flora of the Maldives]]