346 ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 



One of the most commonly cultivated species in India;* 

 at least in the last few years, for Roxburgh,^ at the end 

 of the eighteenth century, had only seen it wild. All 

 authors agree in considering it as wild from the foot of 

 the Himalayas to Ceylon. It also exists in Nubia, 

 Abyssinia, and Zambesi ; ^ it is not said whether wild or 

 cultivated. Piddington gives a Sanskrit name, and 

 several names in modern Indian languages, which shows 

 that the species has been cultivated, or at least known 

 for three thousand years. 



Green Gram, or Mting — Fhaseolus mungo, Linnaeus. 



A species commonly cultivated in India and in the 

 Nile Valley. The considerable number of varieties, and 

 the existence of three different names in the modern 

 languages of India, point to a cultivation of one or two 

 thousand years, but there is no Sanskrit name.* In 

 Africa it is probably recent. Anglo-Indian botanists 

 agree that it is wild in India. 



Lablab, or Wall — Dolichos Lahlah, Linnseus. 



This species is much cultivated in India and tropical 

 Africa. Roxburgh counts as many as seven varieties 

 with Indian names. Piddington quotes in his Index a 

 Sanskrit name, schimhi, which recurs in modern lan- 

 guages. Its culture dates perhaps from three thousand 

 years. Yet the species was not anciently diffused in 

 China, or in Western Asia and Egypt; at least, I can 

 find no trace of it. The little extension of these edible 

 Leguminosce beyond India in ancient times is a singular 

 fact. It is possible that their cultivation is not of 

 ancient date. 



The lablab is undoubtedly wild in India, and also, it 

 is said, in Java.^ It has become naturalized from cultiva- 

 tion in the Seychelles.^ The indications of authors are 

 not positive enough to say whether it is wild in Africa.''^ 



> Sir J. Hooker, Fl. of Brit, hid., ii. p. 201. * Roxburgh, Fl. Ind., p. 299, 



• Schweinfurth, Beitr. z. Fl. Ethiop., p. 15; Aufzdhlung, p. 257; 

 Oliver, FL Trop. Afr., p. 194. 



• See anthers quoted for P. triholus. 



• Sir J. Hooker, Fl. Brit. Ind., ii. p. 209 ; Jnnghuhn, Plantoe Jungh., 

 fasc ii. p. 240. 



• Baker, Fl. of Mauritius, p. 83. 



' Oliver, Fl. of Trop. Africa, ii. p. 210. 



