MucuNA.] LEGVUmOSM. 235 



23. CANAVALIA, DC. Fl. Brit. Ind. ii, ]95. 



Large twining perennials or biennials with stipellate 3-foliolate 

 leaves and sLowy flowers. Calyx tubular ; upper lip projecting, entire 

 or emarginate, lower shortly 3-toothed. Corolla far-exserted ; stand- 

 ard large, roundish ; wivgs shorter, equalling the incurved obtuse keel. 

 Stamens 1-adelphous, anthers uniform. Ovary ob cnrely stalked, many- 

 ovuled ; style incurved, beardless, stigma terminal. JPod large, linear 

 or oblong, flat or turgid, with a longitudinal rib along each margin of 

 the flattened upper suture. — Species about 12, inhabiting the warmer 

 parts of both hemispheres. 



C. ensiformis, BC. Prod, ii, 404; F. B. I. ii, 195; Watt E. D; Field 4- 

 Gard.. Crojps Fart Hi, 1, t. 81 ; Prain in Journ. As. 80c. Beng, LXVI, 

 part 2, 62. C. gladiata, DC ; W- ^ A. Prod. 253. Dolichos gladiatus, 

 Jocq. ; Boxh, Fl. Iiidj. Hi, 300. Vern. Sem,hara sem. (Sword bean.) 



A large biennial or perennial climher with glabrous stems and hranches" 

 heaves 10-12 in. long •.'petiole 6 in : stipules minute, deciduous; leaflets 



^ 5-6 in. long, ovate, acute, rounded at the base, the lateral pair ohliquely 

 so, memuranous, very soon glabrous ; stipels su'oulate, caducous. 

 -Peduncles 4-6 in., axillary, bearing loose many-fld. racemes S--^ in. 

 long Floirers solitary or in pairs from swcllen nodes: hracteoles 

 minute, ovate, caducous. Galijx about h in. long, sparsely hairy ; upper 

 lip g- the length of tube. Corolla Ih in. long, lilac ^r white Pods few, 

 linear- oblong, sligbtly curved, varying in length from 6-24 in.; dorsal 

 suture strongly a-kee'led. Seeds 1\ by | in., white, grey or more usually 

 red. 



Cultivated to a large extent within the area, either on the borders of 



• fields, or very frequently it is allowed to climb over the roofs of native 

 huts. DiSTEiB. Throughout India, and everywheie in 'he tropics. 



- The seeds and pods are much eaten by the natives cf India ; and the 

 pods, when young, are sliced and cooked as a make-shift for French 



. beans. A form of this plant, found wild in Eundelkhand and other 

 parts of India, is probably, as Mr. Eaker suggests F. B. I. l.c j, the 

 Cvimsa of W. & A. (/?. virosus, Eoxl.). It differs from the type in 

 having smaller and more obtuse leaflets, also smaller flowers and pods,. 

 and the seeds are said to be bitter. 



24. MUCUNA, Adans. ; Fl. Brit. Ind. ii, 185. 



Perennials and annuals of wide-twining habit. Leaves ample, 3- 

 foliolate and stipellate. Eachis of inflorescence swollen at the nodes. 

 Flowers large, showy, usually dark purple, turning black when 

 dried. Calyx-tube campanulate ; two upper teeth quite connate, 

 lowest longer than the middle ones. Corolla much exserfced, keel 

 exceeding the wings and standard. Stamens 2-adelphous, anthers 



