in botany: A genus of the decan- dra order, belonging to the diadelphia clas of plants; and in the natural method ranking under the 32d or- der, Papilionaceæ. The corolla is supine, or turned down-side up; with the vexillum or flag-petal very large, patent, and almost covering the aloe or wing-pe- tals. There are four species, all of them herbaceous perennials, or annuals, of the kidney-bean kind, grow- ing naturally in both the Indies. The stalk is climbing, flender, and of the height of a man. The leaves are winged, placed alternately, and consist of two, three, or five pair of lobes, terminated by an odd one. The flowers, which are elegant, stand singly, each on its proper foot-stalk. They are very large, and gene- rally of a deep blue, but sometimes of a white colour. From the fruit of this plant is distilled an eye-water. The beans reduced to powder, and taken in broth, to the quantity of two drachms, prove a gentle purge; and Grimmius remarks, in his Labor Ceyl., that the powder of the dried beans, being mixed with the milk of the cocoa nut, or with broth, and administered in quantity quantity from one to three drachms, not only mitigates colic pains, but is very useful, and much used in Ceylon, in all disorders of the stomach and bowels. These plants are propagated by seeds; and, in this country, must be kept continually in a stove.