with the C. gladiata, a truly Indian plant. Our friend, Dr. 

 M'Fadyen, whose book, above quoted, is full of valuable 

 remarks, observes, " Sloane considers this species to be 

 indigenous to the island of Jamaica, and says that the 

 seeds were, in his time, used by some as food, and given to 

 fatten hogs. I do not find, however, on enquiry, that any 

 use is, at present, made of them, except that they are 

 commonly planted by the Negroes, along the margin of 

 their provision grounds, from a superstitious notion, pro- 

 bably of African origin, but very generally entertained, 

 that the <c Overlook " fulfils the part of a watchman, and, 

 from some dreaded power ascribed to it, protects the 

 property from plunder. Even the better informed adopt 

 the practice, although, they themselves may not place 

 confidence in any particular influence which this humble 

 plant can exercise, either in preventing theft, or in punish- 

 ing it when committed." The above notion of its being a 

 native of Africa, seems to be confirmed by the fact, that 

 the seeds from which our present plant was raised, were 

 sent to Mr. Veitch, of Mount Radford, Exeter, from Ashan- 

 tee, together with those of many other native plants. It 

 flowered in Mr. Veitch's Nursery, in November, 1842. 



Descr. It is said to be an annual, and in Jamaica is 

 yearly planted along the margin of provision grounds. 

 The stems are several feet in length. Leaves large, rotun- 

 dato-ovate, acute. Peduncles axillary, in our specimens, a 

 span and more long, terminated by a raceme of large, 

 handsome, purple flowers : these flowers are seated upon 

 globular, fleshy excrescences. The calyx is cylindrical, 

 green dotted with brown ; the upper lip of two large, 

 rounded lobes, the lower of three small teeth. Vexillum 

 large, obovate. Alee smaller than the carina, which latter 

 is very obtuse. Ovary linear, silky, stipitate, arising from 

 a glandular ring. The legume is described by Dr. 

 M'Fadyen as about a foot long, scimitar-shaped, with 

 three keels or elevated lines along the outside. Seeds 

 oblong, plump, white, with the hilum brown. 



. r Fi f: L P °rtion of the Rachis, with a Calyx, Stamens, and Pistil. 2. 

 Vexillum. 3. Carina. 4. Pistil:— magnified. 



