446 DIADELPHIA. 



several species of which are so valuable for 

 dyeing blue ; the handsome l\obiniu, Curt, 

 Mag. t. 311; Cytisus, t, ^76, &c.; and Cli- 

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

 Engl. Bot. t. 9^25, and Medicago, t. 16"16; 

 which last is justly transferred by Wiildenov/ 

 from the foregoing section to this. 



Papilionaceous plants are rarely noxious to 

 the larger tribes of animals, though s.ome 

 species of Galcga intoxicate fish. The seeds 

 of Ci/fisus Lahurnunilvdve of late been found 

 violently emetic, and those of Latliyrus 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 

 Ahrus precaioriits, 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 xXsfw, to close or shut up, in allusion to the 

 situation of the witiccs ami keel. 



