Phaseolus. DIADELPHIA DECANDRIA, . 88 
cordate, the terminal one rhomb-cordate. Petioles often as 
long as the leaflets, channelled. Stipules of the petioles ad- 
joining, ovate-cordate, pointed at both ends, ciliate; those of 
the leaflets narrow-lanced, ending in a bristle. Peduncles 
axillary or terminal, when terminal they are often, in luxuriant 
plants compound, erect, round, shorter than the petioles, 
ending in an enlarged, cylindric, glandular, flower-bearing 
head, Bractes one to each pedicel, and two pressing on the 
calyx, they are all lanceolate, concave and falling. Flowers 
numerous, sub-sessile, pretty large, of a dirty greenish yellow. 
Calyx pretty smooth ; upper segment broad, emarginate, the 
under one twice aslarge, and pointed. Banner broad, emar- 
ginate, Wings, the right one, when the flower is held from 
the person looking at it, and the calyx towards him, is with 
the keel twisted to the left. Keel on the left side, when the 
flower is held as above; there is a horn near the base, as in 
Indigofera, but here it is on one side only. Legumes cylin- 
dric, spreading, about two inches anda half long, very hairy, 
pointed, Seeds small, from ten to fifteen, sub-cylindric, sepa- 
rated by thin membranaceous partitions, 
_ There are a great variety of plants; eulmiferous and legu- 
minous, cultivated over India, under the general name of dry, 
or small grain, because they require very little water, at least 
much less than rice, which is called the great crop. Why we 
also call them small grain, I cannot say, unless it is because 
the quantity cultivated is small, in proportion to that of rice. 
When the usual rains fail, which is too often the case, famine 
is generally the consequence ; for, as rice is a water plant, it 
requires to be constantly flooded to make it productive. In 
the Northern Circars, the present year is the second, a most 
uncommon event, in which the periodical rains have almost 
entirely failed ; not more than one fourth the usual quantity 
having fallen, nin about fifteen inches each year instead of 
sixty. It is during such times that these different sorts of dry 
or small grains become the most serious objects of their far-— 
_ mner’s attention, for on them depend the lives of thousands. — 
