Lablab purpureus n : perennial twining vine of Old World tropics having trifoliate leaves and racemes of fragrant purple pealike 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 [syn: {hyacinth bean}, {bonavist}, {Indian bean}, {Egyptian bean}, {Dolichos lablab}]