290 CALYCIFLOR^. 



fewer by abortion, ovate, compressed, with a fungous 

 callosity arising from the umbilicus. 



Herbaceous or suffrutescent twining plants ; leaflets pinnato- 

 3-foliate ; pedicels semiverticillate. 



1. Lablab vulgaris. Bonavist Bean. 

 Legumes oblongo-ventricose acinaciform, pericarp 

 easily withdrawn, seeds ovate slightly compressed, 

 basilary glandule hemispherical sulcated. De Cand. 



Phaseolus maximus perennis, floribus spicatis, albis, speciosis, 

 siliquis brevibus latis, semen album hilo albido fere circum- 

 dante, Sloane, I. 177. t. 113. Dolichos Lablab, Linn. Sp. 

 1019. Lablab vulgaris, Savi, Diss. 19. f. 8. 



HAB. Ruinate provision grounds. 

 ' FL. Throughout the year. 



There are two varieties in the island : a. albiflorus, with the 

 flowers white, bracteoles shorter than the calyx, seeds of a pale 

 ferruginous colour : /3. pwpureus, with the flowers purple, 

 bracteoles of the same length as the tube of the calyx, seeds of 

 a dark purple, stem purpurascent. The former is the most 

 common. The stem is suffrutescent at the base, and appears 

 to be perennial. It is continually in bearing, and lasts for 

 several years. The pods are apt to have a disagreeable heavy 

 smell, from being visited by a large green bug. The bean is 

 very coarse, scarcely ever cultivated, and seldom made use of, 

 except in times of scarcity. It is originally a native of Egypt, 

 where it forms an important article of food to the poorer class 

 of the inhabitants. The pods, according to M. Achren (Journ. 

 de Chemie Medic. III. 102.), contain gallic acid. 



XXVII. CANAVALIA. 



Calyx tubulose bilabiate ; under lip 3-dentate ; 

 upper of two rounded lobes. Vexillum large, bi- 

 callose, the callosities parallel : wings stipitate, oblong, 

 auriculated : keel dipetalous. Stamens monadelphous, 

 or with the 10th subadherent. Legume compressed, 

 3-keeled along the back, furnished with a cellulose 

 membrane among the seeds : seeds ovali-oblong ; 

 hilum linear. 



Herbaceous or suffruticose ; branches twining; leaves pin- 

 nato-3-foliate ; racemes axillary, or opposite to a leaf, many- 

 flowered ; pedicels 3-nate. Flowers large, purpurascent. I 

 have been obliged to modify the generic character as regards 

 the calyx, in order to admit into the genus CANAVALIA ALTIS- 

 SIMA. Canavali is the Indian name of C. ENSIFORMIS. 



