Cal·a·bar bean (k l  -bär)n. The poisonous seed of a tropical western African woody vine (Physostigma venenosum) in the pea family, which has been used as an ordeal poison and is the source of the drug physostigmine. Also called ordeal bean. [After Calabar, a town of southeast Nigeria.] |
Calabar bean [ˌkæləˈbɑː ˈkæləˌbɑː]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Plants) (Medicine / Pharmacology) the dark brown very poisonous seed of a leguminous woody climbing plant, Physostigma venenosum of tropical Africa, used as a source of the drug physostigmine
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | calabar bean - dark brown highly poisonous seed of the calabar-bean vine; source of physostigmine and used in native witchcraft calabar-bean vine, Physostigma venenosum - tropical African woody vine yielding calabar beans bean - any of various seeds or fruits that are beans or resemble beans |
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