Caesalpinia bonduc

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Caesalpinia bonduc
    n 1: tropical tree with large prickly pods of seeds that
         resemble beans and are used for jewelry and rosaries [syn:
         {bonduc}, {bonduc tree}, {Caesalpinia bonduc}, {Caesalpinia
         bonducella}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Nicker nut \Nick"er nut`\
   A rounded seed, rather smaller than a nutmeg, having a hard
   smooth shell, and a yellowish or bluish color. The seeds grow
   in the prickly pods of tropical, woody climbers of the genus
   {Caesalpinia}. {Caesalpinia Bonduc} has yellowish seeds;
   {Caesalpinia Bonducella}, bluish gray. [Spelt also {neckar
   nut}, {nickar nut}.]
   [1913 Webster]