210 
The purpose thus outlined will be best served by a translation of 
Professor Harms’ summary mentioned above with a description of 
the plant and some observations on its morphological and biological 
peculiarities mainly quoted from the same author’s earlier paper 
together with a list of vernacular names. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
“Two years ago I called attention to an important botanical 
discovery by Dr. Kersting, who, in the northern territory of 
Sokode-Basari, Togoland, came across an especially interesting new 
kind of bean which matured its pods below, instead of above 
ground. The well-known ground nut (Arachis hypogaea), and the 
anut (Voandzeia subterranea), are similar instances. Kersting 
ound that the natives of Togoland cultivated the bean, which they 
ealled Kandela in three varieties distinguished by their colours. I 
described this bean which is not known in the wild state, as 
Kerstingiella geocarpa, the type of a new genus of Leguminosae. 
lack} and mottled). An account may be found in Quinzaine Coloniale, 
1910, No, 16, p. 590. evalier’s description suggested at once the 
identity of the Dahomey and the Togo bean. evalier was, 
on his return from Africa, good enough to send me a specimen of 
his Dahomey plant whilst I supplied him with material from 
Togoland and our comparisons proved that the two beans were 
actually identical, or in other words that the Togo bean extended 
into Dahomey and M. Chevalier has already stated (Compt. Rend. 
l.c., p. 1374) that he too considers his species as identical with 
Kerstingiella geocarpa. He gives an important account of its 
distribution in Dahomey, quoting various vernacular names. The 
species is also said to occur in British Nigeria, but up to the 
prepeut I have seen no specimen from there. In Togo as well as ia 
ahomey the plant is known only in the cultivated state, which 
renders Kersting’s and Chevalier’s discoveries the more remark- 
. 
e. 
“Chevalier gives analyses (lc. 1375) which show that the 
nutritious value of the beans is very considerable. They are said 
to equal the richest peanuts in nitrogenous matter, whilst they have 
at the same time a more pleasant taste, particularly for Europeans, 
recalling that of the finest varieties of beans. The yield, owing to 
the smallness of the seeds (8-10 cm. by 6-7 mm.), is not large. In 
Dahomey according to the French explorer, the women are for- 
bidden to eat the beans. 
_ * On the distribution of Kerstingiell sn tropical Africa (hy Harms 
in Deutsche Kolonialzeitung, vol. m4 viii, 6), in tropi rica (by Har 
t+ Or red (Chevalier Le., p. 86). 
