FLORA VITIENSIS. 63 
seem aware that they were edible. It is difficult to say whether the plant has been introduced; the fact 
that it has in Viti a native name, and was gathered in Tahiti in Cook's voyages, are arguments in favour of 
its being a native. At all events, if introduced, it is now perfectly naturalized in Viti. 
XVI. Pachyrrhizus, Rich. mss. ex DC. Prodr. vol. ii. p. 402; Endl. Gen. n. 6679. Calyx 
urceolatus, 4-lobus, lobo superiore lato emarginato. "Vexillum suborbiculatum, patens, ecallosum, 
basi 2-plicatum, plicis alarum ungues involvens; alee semilunatz, appendice filiformi, carina incurva, 
haud torta. Stamina 10, filamento vexillari libero 2-adelpha, alterna breviora, vagina basi tumida, 
hians. Discus annularis, crenatus. Ovarium oo-ovulatum. Styli pars superior glabra, spiraliter 
torta; stigma magnum. Legumen lineare, compressum, rectum, oo-spermum, isthmis inter semina 
interceptum. Semina orbicularia, compressa, umbilico angustato.— Herb:, radice tuberosa eduli; 
caule volubili, suffrutescente ; foliis pinnatim 3-foliolatis ; foliolis stipellatis; racemis axillaribus, inter- 
dum elongatis; floribus supra rhaches partiales nodiformes fasciculatis, violaceo-céruleis ; calycibus 
basi decidua 2-bracteolatis.— Cacara, Thouars in Dict. Sc. Nat. vol. v. p. 35. 
1. P. trilobus, DC. Prodr. vol. ii. p. 402; caulibus suffruticosis hirsutis, foliolis 3-lobatis 
pubescentibus; floribus purpureis in medio vexilli flavo maculatis.—P. mollis, Hassk. Flora, vol. 
xxv.; Beibl, vol. ii. p. 74? Nomen vernac. Vitiense, “ Yaka” v.‘ Wa Yaka."—Rather common 
on the coast of the larger islands (Seemann! n. 114). Also gathered in Aneitum (M‘Gillivray !) 
and in New Caledonia (Charles Moore !). 
Amongst the esculent roots growing wild, and eagerly sought for just before the regular crops come 
in, or in times of scarcity caused by intertribal wars during the planting season, or by unfavourable weather, 
may be named the Yaka or Wa yaka, a Papilionaceous creeper, with trifoliated leaves and whitish flowers 
tinged with purple. In September and October its tubers send forth new shoots, which grow with rapidity 
and yield a tough fibre, invaluable for fishing-nets, the floats of which are the square fruits of the Vutu 
rakaraka (Barringtonia speciosa, Linn.). The plant delights in open exposed places and a rich vege- 
table soil, where the roots, which generally assume a horizontal direction, often attain from six to eight 
feet in length and the thickness of a man’s thigh. When cooked, they have a dirty-white colour, and a 
slightly starchy but otherwise insrpid flavour, much inferior, I thought, to that of wild yams. However, 
Mr. Charles Moore, of Sydney, ate them in New Caledonia, and is inclined to pronounce more favourably 
upon their taste. Living plants were brought by him to the Sydney botanic garden, where they are now 
growing with native vigour in the open air. The Yaka also plays a part in certain native ceremonies. 
XVII. Abrus, Linn. Gen. n. 1286; Endl. Gen. n. 6698; Benth. Fl. Austr. vol. ii. p. 270. 
Calyx campanulatus, truncatus v. breve et lato dentatus. "Vexillum ovatum. Stamina 9, 1-adelpha, 
basi vexili ungui adhzrentia. Ovarium sessile, oo-ovulatum. Stylus brevis; stigma capitatum. 
Legumen oblongum v. lineare, compressum, 4-6-spermum, isthmis inter semina transversim co-locu-. 
latum. Semina subglobosa, estrophiolata.—Frutices scandentes v. diffusi; foliis abrupte pinnatis 
oc-jugis; floribus racemosis; pedicellis e nodis tuberculiformibus erumpentibus; bracteis minutis v. 
nullis; bracteolis nullis. 
l. A. precatorius, Linn. Syst. 533; glaber v. subpubescens, foliolis 7-10-jugis oblongo- 
ellipticis v. rarius obovatis; floribus roseis v. rarius albidis v. purpureis; legumine sessili, glabro Ek 
lepidoto; seminibus rubris nigro plus minus maculatis, interdum sanguineis albis rufis atris.— 
Rumph. Amb. vol. v. t. 32; Rheed. Mal. vol. viii. t. 39; Lam. Ill. t. 608. f. 1. A. pauciflorus, 
Desv. in Aun; Sc. Nat. vol. ix. p. 418. A. squamulosus, E. Meyer, Comm. Plant. Afr. Austr. p. 126. 
Glycine Abrus, Linn. Spec. 1025. Nomen vernac. Vitiense, “ Lere damu” v. “ Diridamu. Dop- 
mon in the woods all over Viti (Seemann! n. 110! Barclay !). Also collected in Uvea or Wallis 
Island (Sir E. Home !), and in Tahiti (Banks and Solander !), the Samoan and Tongan Islands, the 
east coast of Australia, India and the Archipelago and South n : y ui em 
i inv i b’s tears (Cois Lacryma, Linn.), a grass growing in swamps 
and Med doe xi ipie at ape ts La the Diridamu, Quiridamu, or Leredamu (Abrus 
precatorius, Linn.), which have a bright red colour and a black spot, are affixed with breadfruit gum to the 
