351 



as a representation of the American one; while Rheede's is 

 less happy, especially in the leaves. — Under these circum- 

 stances, I trust Dr. Wight will approve of my giving the 

 specific name already adopted in the Herbarium Amboinense, 

 to designate the Eastern species. — H.~\ 

 SuppL. Tab. XIII. Fig. 1, Pod. Fig. 2, Seed: — natural 



size. 



XIV. 



MUCUNA GIGANTEA. 



(For Class, Order, &c. see No. XII. Mucuna monosperma.) 



Mucuna gigantea; floribus ternis umbellato-racemosis, 



leguminibus oblongis urentibus marginibus canaliculatis 



bialatis. (Suppl. Tab. XIV.) 

 Mucuna gigantea. De Cand. Prodr. v. 2. p. 405. 

 Carpopogon giganteum. Roxh. Hort. Beng. p. 54. 

 Dolichos giganteus. Willd. Sp. PI. v. 3. p. 1041. 



A large, twining, branching, leafy shrub, growing among 

 trees and bushes, which it soon covers and conceals with 

 its abundant and luxuriant foliage. Petioles cylindrical, 

 swollen at the base. Leaflets ovate, dark-green, shining, 

 glabrous, triplinerved at the base; the lateral ones dilated 

 outwardly, the middle one elliptical, all slightly acuminated. 

 Stipules small, setaceous, two to the terminal, and one to 

 each of the lateral leaflets. Peduncles axillary, cylindrical, 

 equalling or exceeding the petioles, thickened near the 

 apex, and furnished with several branches, from which 

 three rather long pedicels spring, bearing each a large 

 greenish-white flower, forming together a globose thyrsus. 

 B?'acteas two, soon deciduous, attached to the base of the 

 calyx. Calyx hispid, campanulate, 2-lipped, upper lip 

 frequently divided ; under lip 3-toothed. Corolla papilion- 

 aceous, whitish-green, but becoming black in drying : Vex- 

 illum nearly as long as the other petals, reflexed ; Keel and 

 wings equal, the latter enclosing the stamens and pistils 

 until an advanced stage, when they burst from their confine- 

 ment, and shortly after, the flower fades. Stamens and 

 Anthers as described in the generic character. Pistil : Ger- 



