Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries, 369 



Phaseolus lunatus, Linne.* 



The "Lima-bean," or "Almond-bean." Perennial. Tropical 

 South- America. A. de Candolle restricts the real nativity to that 

 part of the globe. Witt-mack identifies beans from ancient graves in 

 Peru as belonging to this species. The root is deleterious. Biennial 

 according to Roxburgh. Much cultivated in the warm zone for its 

 edible beans, which are purple or white. A favorite particularly in 

 Western America. P. inamsenus (Linne) is hardly specifically 

 distinct, but grows taller and produces larger fruits ; it is known as 

 a Lima-bean, but also as the Madagascar-bean, and has proved hardy 

 and productive in Victoria. P. perennis (Walter) from the United 

 State* of North -America is another allied plant ; also P. Pallar 

 (Molina) of Peru, the latter perennial, with a comparatively thick 

 stem [Wittmack]. 



Phaseolus radiatus, Linne.* (P. M ungo, Linne ; P.Max, Linne.) 



The " Green Gram." South-Asia and tropical Australia. An 

 annual, very hairy plant, not much climbing. Frequently reared in 

 India, when rice fails or where that crop cannot be produced, yielding 

 the earliest pulse crop in the season. According to Sir Walter 

 Elliot one of the most esteemed of Indian pulses. " It fetches the 

 highest price, and is more than any other in request among the richer 

 classes, entering largely into delicate dishes and cake.' ? Cultivated 

 up to 6,000 feet [Forbes Watson]. Col. Sykes counted 62 pods on 

 one plant with from seven to fourteen seeds in each. Praised by 

 Professor von Heldreich particularly as an exquisite culinary plant 

 from cultural experiences in Greece, although the seeds are so small. 

 It is also a favorite esculent in Japan. Mr. Henry Wehl records 

 that it has done splendidly in the northern part of New South Wales, 

 enduring much dry heat. It came to maturity in the climate of 

 Paris. The herb is not available for fodder. Seems well adapted 

 for green manure [McKeown]. This plant requires no irrigation, and 

 ripens in two and a half to three months. Pailleux records, that the 

 young sprouts serve as a delicate vegetable, irrespective of the seeds. 

 This plant has received from phyto-systematists other names still. 

 Thus P. minimus (Rumphius), P. bicolor (Retzius), P. aureus (Hamil- 

 ton), P. viridissimus (Tenore), according to varieties in colour of seeds 

 chiefly. The last-named variety is also known as the " Mash " of 

 Mesopotamia. [See notes by Jules Cloquet in the "Revue des 

 sciences naturelles appliquees," Oct. 1892, p. 334.] 



Phaseolus vulgaris, 1'Obel.* 



The ordinary Kidney bean or French bean or Haricot. Native 

 country Western South- America, inasmuch as Professor Wittmack 

 has recently identified beans from ancient graves at Lima as belonging 

 to P. vulgaris, and records them also from places of interment in 

 Arizona, together with Maize, Prosopis, and Phaseolus Pallar 

 (Molino). Found also already in culture at the St. Lorenz River, 



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