41 8 sturtevant's notes on edible plants 



largely by the Indians. When dried, they are hard and brittle and have a mild, sweet 

 taste. They afford a good proportion of the food of some tribes.* The fusiform root 

 when roasted is one of the grateful vegetables of the Indians.* 



Peumus boldus Molina. Monimiaceae. boldu. 



Chile. The white, buttery pulp of the fruit is of an agreeable taste.' The aromatic 

 fruits, about the size of haws, are eaten. 



Phaseolus aconitifolius Jacq. Leguminosae. moth bean. Turkish gram. 



East Indies. This bean is cultivated in India and is called, in Hindustan, moot. It 

 is a variety that does not twine and is used principally for feeding domestic animals but 

 also serves as a food for man.^ 



P. adenanthus G. F. W. Mey. 



East Indies. This bean is cultivated for its seeds. A variety with edible roots 

 occurs,' and its use in India by the natives is mentioned by Graham. 



P. asellus Molina. 



Chile. This species was in cultivation by the natives of Chile before the conquest. 

 The bean is spherical and pulpy." 



P. calcaratus Roxb. rice bean. 



East Indies and Malay. This bean is generally cultivated in India for its pulse. 

 The plant is a twining one.'' 



P. caracalla Linn, caracol. corkscrew-flower, snail-flower. 



Tropics. Under the name of caracol, this species is often grown in the gardens of 

 South America, North America, southern Europe and sometimes in India for its large, 

 showy and sweet-scented flowers.* It seems doubtful if the pod or pulse is eaten. 



P. derasus Schrank. 



South America. The beans are used as a vegetable.' 



P. lunatus Linn, civet bean, lima bean, sieva bean. 



Tropics. The lima bean is vmquestionably of American origin, and De Candolle 

 assigns its original habitat to Brazil, where the variety macrocarpus Benth. has been found 

 growing wild.** Seeds have been found in the mummy graves of Peru by Squier," at 



Beckwith Pacific R. R. Rpt. 2: 121. 1855. 



Pvirsh, F. Fl. Amer. Septent. J iigy. 1814. (Seseli triternatum) 

 ' Molina Hist. Chili i: 128. 1808. 



Unger, F. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt. 318. 1859. 

 'Mueller, F. Set. Pis. 333. 1891. 



Molina Hist. Chili 1:91. 1808. 

 'Roxbury, W. Hort. Beng. 54. 1814. 



Booth, W. B. Treas. Bot. 2:874. 1870 



Unger, P. U. S. Pat. Off. Rpt. 318. 1859. 

 " De Candolle, A. Orig. Cult. Pis. 345. 1885. 

 " Squier Per 78. 1877. 



