JEI r-^l'T 



THE LECKIMINOSAE OF PORTO RICO 



By J. Perkins. 



INTRODUCTION. 



■ 



During the preparation of the following paper on the Loguminosae 

 of Porto Rico the Avriter has been impressed with the small number 



r 



of endemic plants. Of the 67 genera and 141 species only 1 genus 

 (Stahlia) and 8 species (Cynometra portorlcensis, CasKia staldii, Cassia 

 j}or{oricensis, Sahinea punicea (introduced into Cuba according to Gund- 

 lach) J Aescliynomcne portoricensis, Lonchocarpus glauciJoVius, Rudolph ia 

 voluhiliSj Sclirankia portoricensis) are'peculiar to the island. 



With respect to distribution, the genera that appear in Porto Rico 

 may be divided into four classes — those which occur in Porto Rico 

 alone; those found also in several or many of the other Antilles; those 

 that appear in Mexico^ the Antilles, and South America; and, lastly, 

 the cosmopolitans. In the third and fourth classes there are many 

 genera^ while the number in the first and second is comparatively 



small. 



Very many of the valuable economic leguminous plants are found 

 on the island. Among the most important are: Indigofcra sujfruticosa 

 (indigo), Ilaematoxylon campedieanum (logwood, campechy wood), 

 Pterocarpus officinalis (kino, American dragon's blood), Dolichos lahlah 

 (seeds and pods), Vigna^ unguiculata (pods, seeds, and fiber), Phaseolus 

 vulgaris J Phaseolus lunatus, Cajanus indicus (seeds and young pods), 

 Pacliyrhizus erosus (tuberous root), Aracliis Jiypogaea (oil and seeds), 

 Abrus precatorius (red seeds used as ornaments, extremely poisonous), 

 Adenantliera pavonina (red seeds (condori) used as ornaments, eaten 

 cooked with rice), Alhizzia lebhelc (wood, gum, tanbark), Calliandra 

 portoricensis (gum, ''copaltic''), Tlymenaea courlaril (gum, '^Vnieri- 

 can copal,'' wood), Stahlia inonosperma (fine wood), Tamarindus 

 indica (fruit, pul])), Acacia farnesiana (fragrant flowers, falsely known 

 as ''Cassia flowers,'' used in perfumery, roots and pods used for dyeing 

 black and tanning), Clitoria ternatea^ Seshania grandijiora, Poinciana 

 regia^ Cassia fistula, Cassia grandis, Bauhinia lappleri, Caesalpinia 

 gilliesii, Caesalpinia pulcherrima (ornamental plants), Ingavera, Kry- 

 fJirim micropteryx , Pithecolohium saman, and others arc used in shad- 

 ing colTcc and cacao. 



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