December 19, 1894.] 



Garden and Forest. 



503 



scribed. The shape is somewhat square, and the raphe, which 

 extends around one-third of the bean, and corresponds more 

 with the ground color, is usually yellowish red. This bean has 

 greater roughness than any of the others ; it is also mottled 

 or streaked with black. The next two beans above, in the 

 same row, are evidently varieties. Their color is a rich 

 chocolate red, without mottles. The large bean at the top 

 of the second row (No. 7) is the fruit of another species of 

 the genus Mucuna. It is quite distinct from the others in 



lacking the mottles. The puds contain one or two beans 

 each. 



Before leaving this interesting group I will mention one 

 more species, Mucuna pruriens, which affords the kivvach or 

 cow-itch of medicine, a celebrated remedy for intestinal 

 parasites. The seed-pods are four or five inches in length, 

 shaped somewhat like the Italic letter /, and covered with 

 a thick coating of short, stiff, needle-like hairs, of a light 

 brown color. The ends of the hairs are barbed or serrated; 



1, 2, 3 and 7. Fruits of different species of Mucuna 



size, color and shape. The form is thick and flattened, 



6. Fruit "f Entada scandens. 



with more square-like edges, and a raphe nearly double the 

 width of any other in the collection. The color is very dark, 

 almost black. The light appearance of this particular 

 specimen is owing to the fact that one side has been 

 polished. It is not often found on our shores. 



In row No. 3 we have still another species, considerably 

 smaller and comparatively globular. The common colors 

 are various shades of mouse, delicate brown or red, always 



Fig. 7'i.— Florida Sea Beans. — See p;«K e 502. 

 4. Fruit of Macadamia ternifolia. 5. Fruit of Coesalpinia bonducella. 



when taken internally, mixed with molasses, they dislodge 

 the worms by sticking into their bodies, the action being 

 entirely mechanical. The common name cow-itch, or 

 cowage, is a corruption of the Hindustani kiwach. The 

 flowers have a disagreeable garlic odor. 



The most interesting of all is the celebrated " Queensland 

 nut" (No. 4, in Fig. 79) of Australia, Macadamia ternifolia, 

 the Kindal-kindal of the a al inhabitants. It be- 



longs to the curious order Pi 1 e. The nuts are pro- 



