446 DIADELPHIA. 



several species of which are so valuable for 

 dyeing blue ; the handsome Robinia, Curt. 

 Mag. t. 311; Cytisiw, t. 176, &c; and Cli- 

 toria*, Ins. of Georgia, t. 18: also Lotus, 

 Engl Bot. t. 925, and Medicago, t. I6l6 ; 

 which last is justly transferred by Willdenow 

 from the foregoing section to this. 



Papilionaceous plants are rarely noxious to 

 the larger tribes of annuals, though some 

 species of Galega intoxicate fish. The seeds 

 of Cytisus Laburnum have of late been found 

 violently emetic, and those of L&thyrffi sa- 

 tivus have been supposed at Florence to soften 

 the bones, and cause death ; we know of no 

 other similar instances in this Class, which is 

 one of the most abundant in valuable escu- 

 lent plants. The negroes have a notion that 

 the beautiful little scarlet and black seeds of 

 Abrus precatorius, so frequently used for 

 necklaces, are extremely poisonous, insomuch 

 that half of one is sufficient to kill a man. 

 This is totally incredible. Linnaeus however 

 asserts rather too absolutely, that " among 

 all the leguminous or papilionaceous tribe 

 there is no deleterious plant to be found." 



* From KAsiw, to close or shut up, in allusion to the 

 situation of the wings and keel. 



