576 A TEXT-BOOK OF BOTANY. 



a common woody climber in cultivation as an ornamental plant ; 

 the glucoside ononin is found in Radix Onoxidis, the root 

 of Ononis spinosa of Europe; the glandular hairs on the pods of 

 Mucuna pniriciis and M. livens growing in the Tropics of both 

 hemispheres constitute the cowhage of medicine ; butyric acid is 

 found in St. John's bread, the fruit of Ccratonia Siliqua, which 

 growls in "European countries bordering the Mediterranean, and 

 also in Epcrua falcata of Guiana. 



A bitter principle, bondicine, known as poor man's quinine, is 

 found in Cccsalpinia Bonducella and other species of Ccrsalpinia 

 growing in Sumatra, Borneo, New Zealand and Brazil ; the seeds 

 of Phaseolus lunatus of the East Indies contain a principle from 

 which hydrocyanic acid is derived. 



The seeds of many of the plants belonging to the Leguminosse 

 are rich in starch and proteins and hence are used as foods. The 

 protein legumin is characteristic of this family. The following 

 are some of the important food plants: the garden pea {Pisum 

 sativmn), the garden bean {Phaseolus vulgaris) ; lentil {Lens 

 esculenta), Japanese Soy bean {Glycine hispida). The peanut 

 {Arachis hypogcca) indigenous to Brazil and extensively culti- 

 vated in most of the Southern States and in Southern Europe, 

 belongs to the group of plants which have geocarpic fruits, that 

 is, fruits which penetrate the soil during their development and 

 ripen under ground (Fig. 231). In peanuts the starch is re- 

 placed by a fixed oil which is present to the extent of about 45. 

 per cent, and which is an article of commerce. In addition to 

 the seeds mentioned those of a number of other plants as well 

 as some fruits, roots and leaves are used as foods in various parts 

 of the world, particularly in the Tropics. The plants of a number 

 of species are used as forage, as those of clover {Trifolium) ; 

 some are cultivated as ornamental plants, as sweet pea {Lathy r us 

 odoratns), and some yield valuable timber, as the locust {Robinia). 



Soy Bean {Glycine hispida) is an important food plant and 

 forage crop. The plant is an annual with trifoliate hairy leaves, 

 rather inconspicuous pale or violet-colored flowers, and with broad 

 pods containing 2 to 5 seeds. The seeds are more or less com- 

 pressed, spherical or elliptical and vary in color from whitish- 

 or yellowish-green to brownish-black. The yield of seed per 



