209 



PlSUM, Linn. 



Pisum sativum, Linn. Sp. PI. (1753) p. 727. 



An annual plant, so well known in gardens at home that description 

 is needless. 



Ill— Plenck, Ic. vi. t, 559 ; Burnett, PL Util. i. t, 17 b, f . 1 ; Duthie 

 Field Crops, ii. t. 32a ; Rchb. Ic. Fl. Germ. xxii. t. 270. 



Garden Pea. 



Peas planted during the month of May (1906) at Ibadan, grew to a 

 height of 5 feet with a satisfying yield. The best months for planting 

 (at Ibadan) are said to be May, June, and July (Ricketts, S. Nigeria 

 Govt. Gaz. 3rd March, 1909, Suppl. page 11). 



The dwarf varieties are considered most suitable to the climate of 

 Singapore, and early sorts such as American Wonder and Laxton's 

 No. 1 have been recommended. The results are stated to be more 

 satisfactory when grown on the hills than on the plains (Agric. Bull. 

 Malay Penin. Dec. 1898, p. 189). 



Ref. — 4< The Pea, Pisum sativum," in Food Grains of India, Church, 



pp. 135-136. " Pisum sativum" in Diet. Econ. Prod. India, Watt, 



vi. 1, A. 1892, pp. 277-281. 



ABRUS, Linn. 



Abrus precatorius, Linn. ; Fl. Trop. Afr. II. p. 175. 



7Z/.-Rheede, Hort. Mai. viii. t. 39 ; Rumpf. Amb. v.t, 32 ; Sloane, 

 Voy. Jamaica, i. t. 112, ff. 1, 5, 6 (Phaseolus glycyrrhizites) ; Lam. 

 Encycl. t. 608 ; Tuss. Ant. iv. t. 18 ; Desc. Ant. iv. t. 275 ; Diet, Sc. 

 Nat. t, 250 ; Velloso, Fl. Flum. vii. t. 98 ; Blanco, FL Filip. t. 156 ; 

 Ralph, Ic. Carp. t. 30, f. 2 ; Bentl. & Trimen, t. 77 ; Engl. & Prantl. 

 Pflan. iii. pt. 3, f. 130 (after Bentl. & Trimen) ; Greshoff, Nutt. Ind. 

 PI. t. 49 ; Contr. U.S. Nat. Herb. ix. t, 31 (Abrus Abrus). 



Vernac. names. — Misimisi, or Iwere-jeje (Lagos, Daiuodu) ; 

 Katumbar (Lake Nyasa, Johnson) ; Fingo gifingo (Golungo Alto. 

 Welwitscli) ; Panacoco (French Guiana, Heckel) ; [Kolales halom — 

 tano (Guam) ; Sagasaga (Philippines) ; Matamamoso (Samoa) ; Pepitio 

 (Tahiti) ; Peronia (Porto Rico) Sa fjord] ; Yoay pyoo than (Moulmein, 

 Mus, Kew) ; Barricarri (Brit. Guiana, Vilmorin Andrieux &• Co.)— 

 Crabs Eyes, Jequerity Seed, Prayer Beads, Indian Liquorice, Rati 

 Seed. 



Lagos, Old Calabar and throughout Tropical Africa and the Tropics 

 generally. Often cultivated. 



In Lagos the plant is used together with limes for coughs and 

 irritation of the chest (Moloney, Herb. Kew). The leaves are used as 

 an unguent, Sierra Leone (Scott Elliot, Herb. Kew). In Nyasalaml the 

 roots are cooked with beans for urine disease (Archdeacon Johnson, 

 Herb. Kew). The roots are also used as a substitute for Liquorice 

 {Glycyrrhiza glabra). 



The seeds are poisonous, the active principle is " Abrin.*' Made 

 into a paste and inserted below the skin of man or beast, death 

 results in a few hours. The lethal dose, according to Kobert, is 

 only -00001 grm. per kilo of the weight of the animal, though when 

 boiled the seeds may be eaten, since their poisonous property is then 

 destroyed (Watt. Com m. Prod. India, p. 1). 



16583 C 



