213 
lengthens into a carpopodium and at the same time turns towards the 
round ; then the corolla and the style are thrown off. The ovary, 
still very small, is pushed out of the calyx, and by the root-like 
carpopodium gradually driven into the ground, where finally the 
growth and the maturation of the ovary into the seed-bearing pod 
takes place. 
VERNACULAR NaMEs. 
- Dr. Kersting states that the bean is called “ Kandela” in the 
Sokode-Basari District in Northern Togoland, whilst Chevalier 
quotes the following names:—Doi and Nadou (Dahomey); 
Dieguem tenguéré (Mossé), Kouarourou (Hausa), Dougoufalo 
(Bambara) and Bindi (Baunnako). 
The specimen collected by Mr. W. R. Elliot in Nupe bears the 
name “ Pararu.”* This has been referred to Voandzeia subterranea 
by Mr. J. H. Holland in “ The Useful Plants of Nigeria” (Kew 
Bull. Add. Ser. ix., part ii., p. 232). Dr. Dalziel’s Kawaruru 
(Holland, 1.c.) from Kontagora is evidently the same as Chevalier’s 
Kouarourou, mentioned above. 
II. DISCOVERY OF VOANDZEIA SUBTERRANEA IN 
THE WILD STATE. 
This plant, so widely cultivated in Africa and in other parts of 
the tropics has up till recently been unknown in the wild state, 
although everything pointed to the fact that it had its origin in 
Tropical Africa. ‘The question seems now to be definitely solved by 
the simultaneous discovery in August, 1909, of the wild form by 
Dr. Dalziel in the bush in the Kilba country, north of Yola, and 
close to the frontier of German Adamaua, and by C. Ledermann, near 
Garua in German Adamaua, The specimens differ in no way from 
the narrow-leaved states of the cultivated Voandzeia, excepting in 
the more slender character of the stolons, peduncles and pedicels, and 
the short petiolule of the terminal leaflet. In neither case, however, 
were fruits collected. Kew is indebted to Dr. H. Harms for a 
specimen of Ledermann’s plant and information about it. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATE. 
The figures have been reproduced from the Berichte d. Deutschen 
Botanischen Gesellschaft, vol. xxvi. a, tab. III., by the kind 
permission of the secretary and the author :—(1) The plant, with 
fruits and flowers; (2) a flower; (3) a calyx, laid open; 
(4) a standard; (5) one of the wings; (6) keel; (7) pistil; 
(8 and 9) advanced stages of the pistil with enlarged stipes ; 
(10) a pod, not quite mature, cut open; (11) seed, seen from the 
hilum side ; (12) the same in side view ; (13) embryo. 
All enlarged, excepting 1, 11, and 12 which are natural size. 
* This is given as the Hausa name of Voandzeia by Dudgeon (The Agric. and 
Forest Prod. of Brit. West Africa, p. 152), and a sample of Paruru seeds in the 
Imperial Institute, collected by Dudgeon, is undoubtedly Voandzeia subterrannea 
