LEGUMINOSJE. 295 



subulate. Racemes axillary, pendulous : flowers pedicelled, in 

 threes, showy, purple, of a disagreeable alliaceous smell. Calyx 

 pilose. Wings and keel twice the length of the standard. 

 Ovary hairy: style with hairs tufted. Legume about the 

 size of the fore-finger, figure of an Italic f, densely covered 

 with stinging hairs of a brownish colour : seeds oblong, varie- 

 gated, with the hilum white. 



The root of this plant is stated by Browne, to be a powerful 

 diuretic and cleanser, and the vinous tincture of the pods to be 

 a certain remedy for dropsy. Grainger says, that a fowl stuffed 

 with Cowitch, and made into broth, has sometimes carried off a 

 dropsy by stool or urine. The plant, however, is principally 

 known in medicine from the sharp seta? which cover the pods, 

 having been found a valuable remedy in destroying in- 

 testinal worms. Their action appears to be, like that of tin 

 filings, merely mechanical, since their efficacy is destroyed by 

 the process of boiling. When the remedy is to be given, the 

 pods are dipt into thick syrup, molasses, or honey, and, after 

 scraping off the hairs or setae, are withdrawn. Of this mix- 

 ture, a dessert spoonful is given for several mornings, followed 

 by a brisk purgative, which seldom fails to bring away the 

 worms dead. It may be given with perfect safety, as it is 

 never known to produce any disagreeable effects in swallowing, 

 or any unusual sensation in the bowels. Of late years, it has 

 been neglected, having been in a great measure superseded by 

 turpentine, which is equally efficacious, and more conveniently 

 administered. When the setae have accidentally come in con- 

 tact with the hands or with the skin of any part of the body, 

 the stinging sensation may be relieved by rubbing so as to 

 bruise the hairs, and by afterwards smearing the part with oil ; 

 or, it is said, that the setae will attach themselves to the rim of 

 a hat passed over the part, and thus be withdrawn. 



XXIX. CAJANUS. Pigeon Pea. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-fid ; divisions subulate, re- 

 curved at the apex ; the two upper ones united for 

 some way. Standard large, bicallose at the base; 

 keel obtuse, straight. Stamens diadelphous (9 and 1). 

 Legume oblong, compressed, torulose with oblique 

 strangulations, bivalved. Seeds many, subspherical, 

 separated by membranaceous isthmi. De Cand. 



Shrubs, subvelutine ; leaves pinnato-trifoliate, with the leaf- 

 lets stipellated ; racemes axillary ; pedicels in pairs, from a sin- 

 gle bractea ; flowers yellow. Name, from Cajan or Cadjan, 

 the African designation of the Pea. 



