121 
XCVIL—SHORT-PODDED YAM-BEAN. 
(Pachyrhizus angulatus, Rich.) 
With Plate. 
In the Kew Bulletin for January last, p. 17, and again in the 
Bulletin de March last, p. 62 (with Plate), an didi was given of 
th biem -b ( n is i 
e 1 hyrhizus EE Spreng.). This is a valuable 
eeon Mone yielding tuberou ble roots as well as pods, which, 
ird | like ench beans, are an adaa vegetable for use in tropical 
countries. Hitherto, the plant had been i ncluded under Pachyrhizus 
angulatus, Rich. It is a question how far réally it may be distinct, but 
Professor Oliver is of opinion that it possesses such well-marked charac- 
teristics us it deserves a distinct name for cultural purposes, and it 
has been decided to retain e 2 He specific name originally given it by 
ice <a adopted by Spr 
In order to form a mean bob Stasi between the two plants a 
figure ‘of Pachyrhizus duy elátus, Rich., prepared for the Icones 
Tieren is here reproduced by permission of the Bentham 
Truste 
Pütkorkinr angulatus, Rich.; DO. Prod., ii,402. Roots tuber- 
ous. em herbaceous twining, clothed with short hairs, sometimes 
smooth. Leaves pinasa three-foliolate with stipellate lobed leaflets, 
stipules deltoid or ovate-lanceolate short; leaflets large membranous 
hairy or glabrous Frane toothed, base of lateral leaflets strongly 
i termi i 
Racemes loose }—1 foot, often with short somewhat erect branches at the 
base, bracteoles setaceous. Calyx, five-lobed, hairy. - Corolla, reddish 
or violet. Legume 3-5 inches long, 6-8 lines broad, deeply depressed 
between the seeds, somewhat hair iry, 
Widely cultivated in the tropics of both hemispheres, “probably o of 
Central American origin,” Bentham, in Martius, Z7. Bras. (Papilion- 
acec), 199, PI. 53. 
A starch is made from the tubers of this e or the tubers when 
young are eaten as in "pe ease of P. tuberosus. In Fiji, where the 
plant is ion according to Seemann as Yaka or > aes a tough 
fibre is obtained from the Jis stems, used in making cw 
In 2 recent letter received from Dr. Trimen, F.R.S., teret of 
the Botanie Gardens, Ceylon, jo ias Kew is indebted br | eke tan ia 
itd of both species of Yam-bean, it is state 
inary Paéhyrkisus  asgulátus (from m is now eropping 
petii pom You will be interested to know that the s of this 
cannot be well used as a vegetable like those of the West Indian 
species [Pachyrhizus tuberosus]. The are smaller and more 
hairy, and the coolies tell me that they cannot eat them in their curries 
rri setting up a diarrhea, due no doubt to the irritation of the 
Fig. 1, ealyx and siine; 2, vexillum ; 3, wing; and 4, keel-petal; 5, pistil ; 
6,seed. Enlarged. 
