PSOPHOCARPUS TETRAGONOLOBUS (POIS CARRE) 171 



PSOPHOCARPUS TETRAGONOLOBUS 

 (POIS CARRE). 



This legume, which on account of its quadrangular pods 

 is commonly known as the " Pois carre," is a tW'ining herb, 

 cultivated in g^ardens and rarelv semi-wild. Several varieties 

 are found, among others one with ivory white flowers and 

 another with bluish flowers, with the posterior portion of 

 the standard cream. ^" 



According to Sagot, this legume is a native of Southern 

 Asia; but Mr. Burkill, "Reporter on Economic Products," 

 of Calcutta, believes Psophocarpus to be a native of 

 Madagascar. 



In a special letter addressed to us in March, 191 1, Mr. 

 Burkill wrote as follows : — ■ 



" In spite of what Sagot thinks, I do not believe 

 Psophocarpus tetragonolobus to be an Indian plant. Its 

 native country would probably be Madagascar, and it is 

 possible that a tuberculate variety has been found in the 

 Malay Archipelago; but India has certainly received the 

 Pois carre from elsewhere." 



Attempts have been made to prove from Graham's 

 catalogue that the Pois carre is a native of Mauritius. This 

 is a mistake, for Burkill, commenting on Graham's phrase, 

 " a native of Mauritius," says : " It is impossible to be sure 

 whether Graham knew with any certainty that this plant 

 came from Mauritius." 



Burkill, who believes that our species comes from 

 Madagascar and the one with tubercles from the Malay 

 Archipelago, adds, in his pamphlet on " Goa Beans " : 

 " Anyone may hold the opinion that the Psophocarpus came 

 to Mauritius or to Rodrigues from the Malay Archipelago, 

 or to the Malay Archipelago from Mauritius or from 

 Rodrigues. One point alone is clear, and that is that 

 Psophocarpus palustris is more than probably of African 

 origin, and if this latter is a native of Africa or of 



