Lens.] LEGVMIN08M, 257 



white. 'Podb f-1 in., turgid, pubescent, topped by the persistent base 

 of the style. /Seeds obovate or subglobose, beaked, reddish-brown, 

 black or white. 



Largely cultivated in North- Wesi and Cent. India during the cold season 

 Although not now to be found in a truly wild state, its original home 

 was most probably in some part of S. E. Europe. Two distinct kinds 

 are grown in this part cf India, one with reddish seeds, and a smaller 

 kind with seeds of a light brown colour. There is also one with nearly 

 black seeds, and another with large white seeds, kn wn as "Cabuli;" 

 the last-named is, however, rarely grown for profit. Gram is used 

 chiefly in Upper India as food for horses, but is also eaten to a large 

 extent by the poorer classes, either parched or boiled. The Horse- 

 gram of Madras is Dolichos^ hiflorus. '] he stalks and leaves, after 

 the grain is removed, constitute a valuable fodder for cattle. The 

 plant, when growing, exudes an acid liquid, which is obtained by 

 collecting the dew from the foliage. It is found to contain oxalic, 

 acetic and malic acids, and is much valued by natives for its medici- 

 nal properties. 



37. LENS, Gren. & Godr. 



Erect or subscandent herbs, Leaves pinnate, the rachis ending in 

 a oristle or tendril or in a terminal leaflet ; stipules semisag^ttate ; 

 leaflets of 2-many pairs, entire, exstipellate. Flowers solitary or in 

 racemes, on axillary peduncles. Calyx-lobes elongate, subeqnal. 

 Standard broad ; wings adherent to the keel ; heel shorter than the 

 wings . Staminal-tuhe with an oblique mouth. Ovary subsessile, 

 2-ovuled ; style inflexed, bearded with minute hairs on its inner face. 

 JPod corapres?ed; continuous within, l-2-se9ded. — Species 5 or 6. 

 Mediterranean and W. Asian. 



L. escnlenta, McBtich. Meth. 131 ; Watt E. D. Ervum Lens, Linn. ; 

 Royle III. 200 ; F. B. I. ii, 179 ; DO. L'Orig- PI. Cult. 257 ; Field Sf Gard. 

 Crovs II, 13, t, xxxi. Cicer Lens, Willd. ; Roxh. Fl. Ind. Hi, 534.— Vern. 

 Masur. (The Lentil.) 



A small erect softly pubescent herb, branching from the base. Leaflets of 

 4-6 pairs, sessile, lanceolate, often mucronate ; rachis ending in a short 

 bristle. Racemes 2-4--fld ; peduncles about as long as the leaves, extend- 

 ing beyond the flowers. Calyx-teeth linear, twice as long as the tube, 

 silky. Corolla a little l->nger than the calyx-teeth, pale purple. Pod 

 rhomboid-oblong, about i in. long, smooth. Seeds usually 2, compressed, 

 grey, with minute spots. 



The lentil is grown as a cold- weather crop throughout India, and 

 very extensively in the Central Provinces. In Upper India the largest 

 areas occupied by this crop are in the Terai districts and those of 

 Eohilkhand. According to DeCandoUe the plant originated in S. E. 



