520 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



to mention Indigo, the most useful of all dyes, are products of 

 other species ; and these may be taken as a general indication 

 of the purposes to which Leguminous plants may be applied. 

 There is this, however, to be borne in mind, in regarding the 

 qualities of the order from a general point of view ; viz., that upon 

 the whole it must be considered poisonous, and that those 

 species which are used for food by man or animals, are excep- 

 tions to the general rule; the deleterious juices of the order not 

 being in such instances sufficiently concentrated to prove in- 

 JTirious, and being, in fact, replaced to a considerable extent by 

 either sugar or starch." In alluding to the properties and uses 

 of the more important plants of the order, we shall take them 

 under their respective sub-orders. 



Sub-Order 1 . Papilionace^. — In this sub-order we have included a num- 

 ber of plants which are used as nutritious food by man or animals, such as 

 peas (Pisum), Broad-beans (Faba), Kidney-beans, Scai-let-runners and 

 haricots (P/iaseolus), Lentils {Ervum), Pigeon-peas (Cajanvs, &,c.). The 

 seeds of the above plants, and many others, are commonly known under the 

 name of pulse, and do not need any detailed description. Lucerne and 

 Medick (Medkago) , Melilot (Meiilotus) , Clover ( TrifoUu m), Tares and Vetches 

 {Ervvm, Vicia), Saintfoin (Oi^obi'ijchis) , and many others which are common 

 fodder plants in different parts of the globe, also belong to this sub-order, 

 and do not require any further notice. Some plants, or parts of plants, of 

 this sub-order are, however, poisonous, as the roots of the Scarlet-runner 

 (Phaseolus vmltiflorus) , the roots of Phaseohis radiutus, the seeds of Lathyrus 

 Aphaca, the seeds and bark of Laburnums {Cytims alpinus and C. Laburnum), 

 the seeds of Anagyris fociida, the seeds of the Ordeal Bean of Old Calabar 

 {Physostigma venenosum), and it is also said by some (although denied by 

 Macfadgen), the seeds of Abrus precatorms, also the seeds of the Bitter 

 Vetch {Ervum Ervilia), the juice of Coronilla varia, the leaves of some 

 Gompholobiums, the leaves and young branches of Tephi-osia toxicaria, the 

 bark of the root of Piscidia Erytkrina, &c. 



The plants of the sub-order which require a more particular notice are as 

 follows :— 



Abrus precatorius. — The seeds are used as beads for making rosaries, neck- 

 laces, &c. — hence their common name of prayer-beads. They are of a scarlet 

 colour, with a black mark on one side. They are reputed to be poisonous. 

 The roots resemble those of the Liquorice plant, and form an excellent sub- 

 stitute for them ; and hence the name of Wild Liquorice, or Indian Liquorice, 

 by which this plant is sometimes known. 



Alschynomene. — The stems of uEsc/iynomene aspera furnish the Sola, or 

 Shola, of India. These stems are remarkably light and spongy, and hence 

 are commonly used for making floats and buoys for fishermen, for the ma- 

 nufacture of very light hats, and for other purposes where elasticity and 

 lightness are necessary. A fibre called Duchai Hemp is obtained from 

 jEschynomene cannabina. 



Alhagi Maurorum, Camel's Thorn.— This plant and other species related 

 to it secrete in Persia and Aifghanistan a kind of manna. This substance is 

 obtained by simply shaking the branches. It is highly esteemed by the AflE- 

 ghans as a food for cattle. In some parts of the East it is used as food for 

 man, and as a laxative. It has been supposed to have been the manna upon 

 which the Israelites were fed in the wilderness, but such an idea is undoubt- 

 edly incorrect. (See Lecanora.) 



Avdira.—Th& bark of Andira inermis, known as Cabbage-bark or Worm- 

 bark, was formerly much used as an anthelmintic. It possesses cathartic, 

 emetic, and narcotic properties. In large doses it is poisonous. A. retusa 

 yields a bark with siiuilar properties, which is known under the name of 

 Surinam Bark. 



A achis hypogcea. — This plant is remarkable for ripening its legumes 



