270 SUNN HEMP OF INDIA. 
SuNN aNpD otHER Lecuminous Piants (Leguminose). 
Sans., Sana; Hindee, Sunn; Bengalese, Ghore Sun and Meesta pat; Cing., Kenna ; 
Hemp and Sunn Hemp in Calcutta; Janapa, Shanapum, also, Madras Hemp ; 
Taag or Conkanee Hemp, Salsette, and Bombay Hemp. Some of the Brown Hemp 
of commerce. 
The now well-known Sunn of India belongs to a family of 
plants, of which some, such as the Peas and Beans of Europe, are 
familiar to all; as are also the species of Phaseolus and Dolichos, 
yielding the pulses of India. The family has been named 
Leguminose, from the fruit of all consisting of a pod or Legume. 
Though very numerous in species, comparatively few are re- 
markable for their fibrous properties, though one of the oldest 
described cordage plants of Europe belongs to this family. 
Under the head of Esparto, in the family of Grasses (p. 81), 
we have stated that Stipa tenacissima was no doubt one of the 
kinds of Spartum of the ancients, and that Spartium junceum 
was probably another. It was very common for the ancients 
to group substances together according to their properties 
rather than according to their external characters. Mr. Yates 
is of opinion, that this Spartium junceum, or Spanish Broom, 
was the original plant, and that the name Spartum, con- 
verted into Esparto, was afterwards applied to the grass. The 
Spartium junceum, or Spanish Broom, common in the sterile 
parts of the South of Europe, affords a fibrous thread which 
used to be made into cloth in Turkey, in Italy, and in the South 
of France, Near Lucca the twigs were formerly steeped in 
the thermal waters of Bagno a Acqua. After this process 
the bark is easily stript off, and it is then combed and other- 
wise treated like flax. In the vicinity of Pisa, also, the twigs 
were soaked in the thermal waters. In the South of France 
the Broom is grown in dry and unproductive parts, and also 
carefully prepared. The coarser thread is used to make bags 
for holding legumes, corn, &c.; the finer for making sheets, 
napkins, and shirts. (v. Yates’s ‘ Textrin. Antigq.,’ pp. 323-4.) A 
white-flowered plant has also been long used for the same pur- 
poses. This, there is little doubt, is the Spartium monospermum, 
or the white single-seed Broom ; and probably also S. multi- 
florum, which is the Portugal white Broom. As these plants 
are naturalized in our gardens, it is easy to ascertain the 
