"Jimbo156" wrote in message
om...
A neighbor has a tree that is about 8 ft. tall that was covered with
large purple blossoms in early spring (in S. Texas)...now the blossoms
hve gone, but there are bean pods hanging straight down that are
probably 4 in. long. Any idea what it is?

Texas Mountain Laurel?
http://www.desverde.com/treegallery/texasmtnlaurel.cfm