438 



BOTANY AND PHARMACOGNOSY. 



PHYSOSTIGMA.— CALABAR BEAN.— The ripe seeds of 

 PhysostigmU venenosum (Fam. Leguminosae), a woody climber 

 growing in the 'region of the Gulf of Guinea on the western ^coast 

 of Alrica (p. 298). The seeds are also known as "the ordeal 

 bean of Galabar " (Fig. 189)1;' ' ■ ^''- . 



DEisoRiPTtoK. — AnatropbuSj! somewhat reniform or irreigulafiy 

 oblong 'of ellipsoidal, 25 to 30.rtim; long, 15 to 18 mm. in diam- 



FiG. 189. Physosiigma venenosum: A, flowering branch; B, a single flower; C, 

 flower showing, ovary and part of the calyx; D,. enlarged view of style and stigma; E, 

 legume; F, seed. — After Bentley and Trimen. 



eter, 10 tO' 15 mm. thick, with a brownish-black groove from i to 2 

 mm. in diameter extending about half-way around the edge, Con- 

 taining the raphe as a narrow line, and in which is frequently 

 found the remains of the white metnbranaceous funiculus, the 

 •micropyl^ Occurring near one end' of the groove as a slight depres-^ 

 ■sion; seed-cOat brownish-red, hard, thick, smooth, but somewhat 

 rough Hear the groove; reservfe • layers' wanting, embryo large, 

 white, with short hypocotyl and twb concavo-convex cotyledons'; 

 inodorous ; taste starchy. , . 1 . . 



