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horsebean

horsebean

9.9
A large spiny shrub or small tree with yellow orange flowers used as a hedge and for animal food
  • noun
  • /ˈhɔrsˌbin/
  • Specialized
translation icon : algarrobo
  • During drought years, farmers sometimes use horsebean as emergency fodder for their cattle.

Examples

  • The rancher planted horsebean trees along the property border to create a natural hedge.

  • The sweet scent of the horsebean blossoms attracted bees to the garden.

  • The horsebean shrub blooms beautifully in the spring.

  • Can you identify the horsebean among these plants?

  • During drought years, farmers sometimes use horsebean as emergency fodder for their cattle.

  • The rancher planted horsebean trees along the property border to create a natural hedge.

  • The sweet scent of the horsebean blossoms attracted bees to the garden.

Synonyms

Parkinsonia aculeata
vshorsebean
  • Specialized
9.9

A small tree with sharp thorns and yellow-orange flowers that people grow in warm gardens or as hedges

is the common descriptive name for the same species
Jerusalem thorn
vshorsebean
9.8

A thorny shrub or small tree with yellow flowers often grown in warm, dry places

is narrower and refers to the tropical species often used as emergency livestock food

Surface Forms

horsebean singular
horsebeans plural

Morphology

horsebean = horse + bean (opaque) = horse + bean

The term 'horsebean' does not transparently convey its meaning as a type of shrub, as the components 'horse' and 'bean' do not directly relate to the plant's characteristics.

Etymology

Horsebean likely comes from the simple parts horse and bean, because the shrub makes long, bean-like pods and was often planted as a hedge while its pods were used as emergency food for animals, especially horses. So the name helps you remember it is a bean-like plant that people used for horses.