346 ORIGIN OF CULTIVATED PLANTS. 



One of the most commonly cultivated species in Indla;^ 

 at least in the last few years, for Roxburgh,^ at the end 

 of the eighteenth century, had only seen it wild. All 

 authors agree in considering it as wild from the foot of 

 the Himalaj^as to Ceylon. It also exists in Nubia, 

 Abyssinia, and Zambesi ; ^ it is not said whether wild or 

 cultivated. Piddington gives a Sanskrit name, and 

 several names in modern Indian languages, which shows 

 that the species has been cultivated, or at least known 

 for three thousand years. 



Green Gram, or Mung — Fhaseolus mungo, Linnreus. 



A species commonly cultivated in India and in the 

 Nile Valley. The considerable number of varieties, and 

 the existence of three different names in the modern 

 languages of India, point to a cultivation of one or two 

 thousand years, but there is no Sanskrit name.* In 

 Africa it is probably recent. Anglo-Indian botanists 

 agree that it is wild in India. 



Lablab, or Wall — Dolichos Lahlah, Linnreus. 



This species is much cultivated in India and tropical 

 Africa. Roxburgh counts as many as seven varieties 

 with Indian names. Piddington quotes in his Index a 

 Sanskrit name, schimhi, which recurs in modern lan- 

 guages. Its culture dates perhaps from three thousand 

 years. Yet the species was not anciently diffused in 

 China, or in Western Asia and Egypt; at least, I can 

 find no trace of it. The little extension of these edible 

 LeguTiiinosce beyond India in ancient times is a singTilar 

 fact. It is possible that their cultivation is not of 

 ancient date. 



The lablab is undoubtedly wild in India, and also, it 

 is said, in Java.^ It has become naturalized from cultiva- 

 tion in the Seychelles.^ The indications of authors are 

 not positive enough to say whether it is wild in Africa."^ 



» SirJ.'H.o6ker,Fl.ofBrit.Ind.,n.p.20l. * Roxbnrgli,PZ.I«d.,p. 299. 

 ' Schweinfurth, Beitr. z. FL Ethiop., p. 15; AuJ'zdhlungy p. 257; 

 Oliver, Fl. Trop. Afr., p. 194. 



•* See authors quoted for P. triholus. 



* Sir J. Hooker, Fl. B7-it. Ind., ii. p. 209; Junghahn, PlantcB Jungh., 

 fasc ii. p. 210. 



* Baker, Fl. of Mauritms, p. 83. 



' Oliver, Fl. of Trop. Africa, ii. p. 210. 



