220 BUREAU OF AJNIERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 182 



struct the ancient corn plant from which they came. This, it would seem, was 

 a short, slender plant (about a foot or two in height) bearing a few kernels at 

 the base of the tassel and a miniature ear just below. [Ibid.] 



The Bat Cave corn, according to Professor Mangelsdorf, is the old- 

 est and most primitive corn yet discovered. Although probably cul- 

 tivated, it is not far removed from wild corn. Yet it has all of the 

 botanical characteristics of modern corn except size. "This ancient 

 Bat Cave corn," Professor Mangelsdorf says, "proves beyond a reason- 

 able doubt the ancestor of corn was corn and not, as some 19th century 

 botanists have supposed, the wild grass teosinte." (Mangelsdorf, 

 1954, pp. 425-426). 



Adversely, Weatherwax (1950, pp. 57-58) takes exception to the 

 findings recorded by Mangelsdorf and his Bat Cave material. He 

 shows some "skepticism as to the broad conclusions which have been 

 drawn from this discovery — and certainly much skepticism about 

 what has been stated or implied in some of the reviews and news re- 

 ports." 



The common garden bean {Phaseolus vulgaris)^ on the other hand, 

 has never received as much scientific attention as maize (Zea). Lud- 

 wig Wittmack (1879) was the first to actually suspect and indicate an 

 American origin for this seed. Candolle (1885), Gray and Trumbull 

 (1883 a), and other botanists followed and concurred. Hardenburg 

 (1927, pp. 4-5) sums up the whole historical background in a terse 

 statement : 



The common bean was formerly thought to have originated in India. Later, 

 however, it became evident that the so-called Phaseolus of southern Asiatic coun- 

 tries was not identical with that of the Western Hemisphere. Beans of this 

 type were being grown with corn by the American Indians at the time of the 

 discovery of America. It is now generally conceded that the common bean is in- 

 digenous to tropical South America. From this beginning, it has become widely 

 cultivated throughout the Western Hemisphere and is used mainly in three 

 forms ; namely, as snap, green-shell and dry-shell beans. 



Irish (1901) describes the plants of this genus as follows: Plant subglabrous, 

 dwarf or climbing 6 feet or more. Leaflets ovate-acuminate, often oblique. 

 Flowers in recemes shorter than the leaves, white or purplish-violet, medium 

 size. Pods flattened to subcylindrical, straight, or curved, more or less turgid. 

 Seeds variable in size, shape and color. 



Following are the common name, common synonyms, and botanical 

 name for the common field or garden bean : 



Common name Botanical name Common synonyms 



Common field or 



garden bean Phaseolus vulgaris 



Haricot (French) 

 Kidney (English) 

 Navy (American) 

 Ilabas (Mexican) 

 Feijaos (Portuguese) 

 Frejoles (Spanish) 

 Fagiolo (Italian) 

 Bohnen (German) 



