W YORK 

 BOTANICAL 

 GAPD 



THE LEGUMINOSAE OF PORTO RICO. 



By J. Perkins. 



INTRODUCTION. 



During the preparation of the following paper on the Leguminosae 

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

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

 (Stahlia) and 8 species ( Cynometra portoricensis, Cassia staMii, Cassia 

 portoricensis, Sabinea punicea (introduced into Cuba according to Gund- 

 lach) , AescJiynomene portoricensis, Lonchocarpus glaucifolius , Rudolphia 

 volubilis, Schrankia 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: Indigofera sujfruticosa 

 (indigo), Haematoxylon campecheanum (logwood, campechy wood), 

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

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

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

 Pachyrhizus erosus (tuberous root), Arachis hypogaea (oil and seeds), 

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

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

 cooked with rice), Albizzia lebbeJc (wood, gum, tanbark), Calliandra 

 portoricensis (gum, "copaltic"), Hymenaea courbaril (gum, "Ameri- 

 can copal," wood), Stahlia monosperma (fine wood), TamaHndus 

 indica (fruit, pulp), Acacia fame siana (fragrant flowers, falsely known 

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

 black and tanning), Clitoria ternatea, Sesbania grandi flora, Poinciana 

 regia, Cassia fistula, Cassia grandis, Bauhinia Icappleri, Caesalpinia 

 gilliesii, < 'aesdlpinia pulchi rrima (ornamental plants). Ingavera, Ery- 

 thrin i micropteryx, Pithecolobium sarnan, and others arc used in shad- 

 ing coffee and cacao. 



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