274 CALYCIFLOILE. 



1. Abrus precatorius. Wild Liquorice-vine. 



Phaseolus Glycyrrhizites folio alato, piso coccineo atra ma- 

 cula notato, Sloane, I. 180. t. 112. f. 4. 5. 6. Glycine scan- 

 dens, Browne, 297. Abrus precatorius, Linn. Syst. 533. 

 Gcertn. Fruct. II. 328. t. 151. 



HAB. Common on fences. 



FL. End of the year. 



A twining shrub. Leaves abruptly pinnated, many-paired. 

 Flowers flesh-coloured. Seeds scarlet, white, or rufous, with 

 the black spot larger or smaller. 



The roots of this plant are sold, in the streets of Calcutta, 

 as a substitute for those of the common Liquorice of Europe. 

 The leaves also have a similar taste, and an extract, resembling 

 that of the Liquorice, and an infusion, much used as a diluent 

 drink, may be prepared from them. The seeds have been in- 

 correctly characterized by Browne, as very deleterious ; two 

 or three, according to Herman, an author from whom he quotes, 

 being a mortal dose. They are, on the contrary, perfectly in- 

 nocuous, and, though hard and very indigestible, form, accord- 

 ing to Prosper Alpinus, an article of food in Egypt. They are 

 made use of in India, as weights. They are principally em- 

 ployed, strung like beads, to form necklaces and rosaries : and 

 it is, from their being employed for the latter purpose, that the 

 plant has received the specific designation of PRECATORIUS. 



XXII. TERAMNUS. 



Calyx bilabiate, upper lip bifid, inferior shorter, 

 S-partite ; lobes acute. Keel very small, concealed 

 in the calyx. Stamens monadelphous, alternately 

 sterile. Stigma sessile, capitate, on the apex of the 

 ovary. Legume linear, compressed, many-seeded, 

 bivalved. De Cand. 



Suffruticose, twining, natives of the Caribbees ; branches sub- 

 angulated ; leaves 1 -paired, with an odd leaflet ; racemes axil- 

 lary, longer than the leaf ; flowers remote, small, of a reddish 

 tinge. 



1. Teramnus uncinatus. Hooked Teramnus. 



Branches sericeo-hirsute, leaves silky beneath and 

 pubescent above, leaflets oblong or oblongo-lanceo- 

 late. 



Teramnus triphyllus subhirsutus, Broivne, 290. T. uncina- 

 tus, Swartz, FL Ind. Occ. 1239. 



HAB. Common on fences and in waste places. 



FL. November, December. 



Stem suffrutescent at the base ; branches 3-quetrous, sericeo- 



