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folium and the Mikania amara. We here also observed 
an exotic, now abundant everywhere, the Abrus preca- 
torius, or Wild Liquorice, a native of Asia, displaying plenti- 
fully its flesh-coloured spikes, and its showy scarlet seeds; 
which are commonly known by the name of Crab’s eyes. 
I had now, for the first time, an opportunity of observing 
a very beautiful, and, so far as I can ascertain, a new species 
of Phaseolus, a description of which I subjoin.* The 
Dodonea jamaicensis, bearing its minute flowers and angular 
capsules, is very common in this district. I stopped here, 
beneath a lofty specimen of the Eriodendron anfractuosum, to 
admire its brilliant rose-coloured flowers, and to compare it 
with the other commoner tree, (Bombax Ceiba,) which also 
receives the appellation of Cotton-tree. At this season of the 
year, the old leaves are shed, and the new ones do not make 
their appearance till the ripening of the seed, as if this giant 
* PnuasroLus amanvus.—Twining ; branches sub-pubescent: leaves ovate, 
sub-cordate, sub-acuminate, apiculated, above glabrous, beneath, along the nerves, 
somewhat hairy; calyx slightly ciliated, with the three lower lobes sub-equal, 
the upper one emarginate. 
Dzscr.—Stem twining, green, sub-angular, slightly pubescent; leaves ternate ; 
leaflets ovate, the middle one at the base emarginate, the lateral cordate; subacu- 
minate, apiculated, entire, above glabrous, beneath (especially along the nerves) 
somewhat hairy, sub-ciliate, dark green, General stipules small, oblongo-lanceo- 
late, membranaceous. Partial stipules oval; a pair at the insertion of the lateral 
leaves; another pair a little below the middle leaf. Petiole sub-tetragonal, 
channelled above, puberulous. Racemes 2-3-4-flowered ; flowers showy, fra- 
grant, placed on short single-flowered pedicels, at the extremity of the common 
peduncle. Peduncle shorter than the leaf, roundish. A bractea exists at the 
insertion of each pedicel, minute, ovate, concave, green. - Calyx striated, ap- 
pearing under the microscope ciliated, 2-lipped; upper lip sub-emarginate ; 
lower trifid, with the divisions nearly equal. Corolla: Standard roundish, sub- 
emarginate, purplish. Wings broadly sickle-shaped, furnished internally with 
a small, roundish, foliolar appendage, placed above the subulate prolongation 
by which they are inserted. Keel with a long spirally-twisted beak, adhering 
above. Stamens diadelphous ; the single stamen geniculated towards the base and 
incrassated. Filaments delicately capillary. -Anthers linear-oblong, yellow. 
Germen greenish, puberulous ; Style bearded beneath the stigma, which is greenish, 
obtuse. Legume about 6 inches long, and one-third of an inch broad, com- 
Pressed, linear, straight, with a long beak. Seeds oval. 
. Fr. Summer and Autumn months. - 
VOL. H. I 
