

LEGUMINOSAE 527 



vetch (V . dasycarpa) of the Mediterranean region, the Carob tree or St. John's 

 bread (Ceratonia siliqua) is a small tree of the Mediterranean region, the 

 pods of which contain much mucilage of a sweet nature from which syrup 

 was made, and is supposed to be the locust which John the Baptist lived upon in 

 the Wilderness and is used as food; and cattle also relish it. Manna (Alhagi 

 mauroniui} is a dwarfed, thorny, shrubby plant which produces a kind of 

 manna. The locust trees of the West Indies, or Courabaril (Hymenaea Cour- 

 baril) produces a hard timber. The pods contain bean-like seeds embedded 

 in a white spongy mass. The Zamang (Pithccolobium Saman) is a large 

 tree of Venezuela which produces thick, flat pods, containing a sweet pulp 

 commonly used by cattle and horses for food but which are liable to cause 

 internal disorder. The honey locust of eastern North America (Glcdltschia 

 triacanthos) produces a hard wood. The pod contains a gummy sweetish 

 substance much relished by stock. The pods of the mesquite tree (Prosopis 

 juli flora), native to Texas, are used by stock. The Kentucky coffee tree 

 (Glyinnocladus dioica) is native to the Mississippi Valley and it produces a 

 broad, tough pod which contains large, hard seeds. The pod contains a sweetish, 

 disagreeable and nauseating material more or less poisonous. The hard wood 

 is durable. The seed of hairy vetch (Vicia hirsiita) is a common impurity 

 in grain seed. The plant is used for forage. The seeds of Castanospermu-m 

 australis are used in New South Wales in the production of starch. The 

 seed of the coffee astragalus (A. baeticus) is said to produce, when roasted, 

 the true coffee flavor, and is much used in Sweden. 



Many of the species of the order are ornamental, among which may be 

 named the Judas tree or red bud (Cercis Siliquastrum) ; the Caraganas, shrubs 

 with beautiful yellow flowers; the broom (Cytisus scoparius) of Europe 

 naturalized along the sea coast, also used in medicine; the black locust (Robinia 

 Pseudo-acacia), commonly planted as an ornamental tree. The laburnum 

 (Laburnum anagyroides) is an ornamental tree with poisonous seeds and hard 

 wood, used for turned work. The wisteria (Wisteria speciosa) a hardy spec- 

 ies of the southern states and W. Chinensis of China, are cultivated as far 

 north as central Iowa. The seeds of several species of the order are used 

 for making necklaces, among these are the red seeds of the coral tree (Ery- 

 thrina Corallodendron) of the West Indies, the crab's eye (Abrus precator- 

 ius) and the Ormosia dasycarpa. The Jequirity seed (Abrus precatorius} is 

 used as a weight in India, according to Dr. Spafford, each seed weighing ap- 

 proximately 1 gram. 



Medicinal Plants. Of the medicinal plants, in this family, the most important 

 only will be mentioned here. The broom (Cytisus scoparius), native to Europe, 

 is used as a diuretic and purgative. Fenugreek (Trigonella Foemnn-graecum) 

 was formerly used in medicine, but the powdered seeds are now used as an in- 

 gredient of curry powder and also in the preparation of stock foods; they 

 have a characteristic odor and bitter taste. Licorice root (Glycyrrhisa glabra 

 and var. glandulifera (Russian), native to the warmer regions of Europe and 

 extending eastward into Central Asia, is made into extract of licorice which 

 is used to cover the flavor of nauseous medicines and contains the gluccside 

 mycyrrhizin. Cowhage (Mucuna pruriens) is a lofty climbing plant with dark 

 purple flowers of the size of the sweet pea ; pods from 2-4 inches long, covered 

 with rigid, pointed, brown hairs, which if touched, enter the skin and cause 





