30 CIRCULAR NO. 110, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY. 



takable. Clusius, however, describes the seeds as brownish, but all 

 subsequent authors state that the seeds are white, which is the case 

 in all that have been grown in this country. Sloane x gives a good 

 figure and description of the plant in 1707 under the name "horse 

 bean," as he found it in Jamaica. He writes further: 



They are eaten as other Phaseoli by some and counted good food, though their 

 greatest use is to fatten hogs. 



Fifty years later Browne wrote of the horse bean as follows : 



This plant grows in many gardens in Jamaica, where it is cultivated chiefly out of 

 curiosity. It seems to keep a main between the upright and the climbing species of 

 Phaseolus, for the stem seldom rises above 3 or 4 feet, though it emits some slender 

 delicate shoots that run much further. The pods are commonly between 10 and 14 

 inches in length and generally contain 10 or 11 seeds, but the pulse is very seldom 

 used, being generally thought more or less of a deleterious nature. 2 



Macfadyen, writing in the Flora of Jamaica in 1837, records as 

 follows: 



Sloane considers this species to be indigenous to the island and says the seeds were 

 in his time used by some as food and given to fatten hogs. I do not find, however, 

 on inquiry that any use is made at present of them, except that they are commonly 

 planted by the negroes along the margin of their provision grounds from a supersti- 

 tious notion, probably of African origin, that the overlook fulfills the part of a watch- 

 man and, from some dreaded power ascribed to it, protects the provisions from plunder. 

 Even the better informed adopt the practice, though they themselves may not place 

 confidence in any particular influence this humble plant can exercise, either in pre- 

 venting theft or in punishing it when committed. 3 



The same idea prevails at the present day in Panama. 



BOTANICAL RELATIONSHIPS. 



The j ack bean was briefly described and named DolieJios ensiformis 

 by Linnaeus. 4 His description is based primarily on the previous 

 account and illustration of Sloane. In later descriptions, however, 

 Linnaeus also included under his species various plants described by 

 other authors. In 1759 he redescribes his Dolichos ensiformis, 5 citing 

 as its basis the plate and description of an Amboyna plant. 6 Linnseus 

 describes the plant as twining, which accords with the descriptions 

 of both Sloane and of Rumphius. In 1763 Linnaeus 7 again describes 

 the plant under the same name, but states that the plant is erect. 

 Besides the plants of Sloane and of Rumphius he includes the Indian 

 plant described and illustrated by Rheede. 8 



1 Sloane, Sir Hans, bart. A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers, and 

 Jamaica, with the Natural History, v. 1, p. 177, 1707. 



2 Browne, Patrick. Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 291, 1879. 



3 Macfadyen, James. Flora of Jamaica, p. 292, 1N37. 



* Linnaeus, Carolus. Species Plantarum, t. 2, p. 725, 1753. 



6 Linnams, Carolus. Systema Naturae, ed. 10. 1. 2, pt. 2, p. 1102, 1759. 



6 Rumphius, G. E. Herbarium Amboinense, pars 5, pi. 142, 1747. 



7 Linnseus, Carolus. Species Plantarum, ed. 2, t. 2, p. 1022, 1763. 



s Rheede tot Draakenstem, H. A. van. Hortus Malabaricus, pars 8, pi. 44, 1688. 



[Cir. 110] 



