FORESTRY OF WEST AFRICA. 321 



Cok," and cook the green pods, which are frequently 

 very long. The pulverised seeds are applied to sore 

 eyes in India. In Tropical Africa the fibres of the 

 long peduncles are used for making ropes, nets, and 

 cloth. — ' Treasury of Botany,' Lindley and Moore ; 

 ' Flora of Tropical Africa,' D. Oliver, vol. ii., p. 205. 



Distribution : Upper Guinea, Nile Land, Mozam- 

 bique District. 



Bambarra Ground-nut, " Litlo " of the Shire Valley 

 ( Voandzeia subterranea, Thouars). — A creeping plant, 

 native of and cultivated in many parts of Africa for 

 its pods and seeds, which are largely used as food. 

 The pods are known in Brazil by the name of Mandubi 

 d' Angola. This plant also occurs in the Cape de 

 Verd Islands. — 'Treasury of Botany,' Lindley and 

 Moore ; ' Flora Senegambia,' Guill. et Pern, vol. i., 

 p. 254. 



Yam Bean {Pachyrhizus angidatus. Rich.). — Peren- 

 nial. Cultivated throughout the Tropics for its tubers, 

 which are like turnips. They are used as food, either 

 raw or cooked. Starch obtained from these tubers 

 in Jamaica, and flour from them from Formosa, are 

 exhibited in the Kew Museum. The seeds are used 

 as food, and in Fiji the natives call the plant Yaka or 

 Wayaka, and prepare a tough fibre from the stems, 

 which they use for making fishing-nets. — 'Treasury 

 of Botany,' Lindley and Moore ; ' History of the 

 Dichlamydeous Plants,' G. Don, vol. ii., p. 361. 



Y 



