252 



Peas and Beans 



usually less than % or % in. long, those of the Horticultural 

 Pole variety weighing between 400 and COO mg. and even 

 more; germinating vitality 3 or 4 years. — Nativity en- 

 tirely unknown, with the probability of American origin ; 

 apparently anciently cultivated by aborigines. Var. nanus, 

 Aschers. Fl. Prov. Brandenb. 170. 1864. (P. nanus, Linn. 

 Amoen. Acad, iv, 284, 1788.) Bush Bean. Plant low, com- 

 pact, not climbing: comprises all the dwarf string beans and 

 field beans. 



P. multiflorus, Willd. Hp. PI. iii, 10.30. 1800. (P. vulgaris 

 var. coccincus. Linn. Sp. PI, Ed. 2, 1010. 1763. Lipusa multi- 

 flora, Alef, Laiulw. Fl. 26, 1866.) Multiflora Bean. Dis- 

 tinguished from /*. ri(J(/(iris in lieing ])erennial with a thick- 

 ened root, having hypogcal gcnuiiiation, flowers showy and 

 many on peduncles that much exceed the petioles or even the 

 leaves and prominently pediceled, floral bracts lanceolate or 

 linear-lanceolate, pod mostly larger as well as the seed, w^hich 

 usually exceeds % or % in. long. — Tropical America. There 

 are bush or dwarf varieties. The flowers are very showy in 

 the Scarlet Runner, as also in the White Dutch Runner. Seeds 

 are often highly colored. 



P. lunatus, Linn. Sp. PI. 724. Sieva or Civet Bean. Prob- 

 ably annual, slender; germination epigeal : leaflets short, 

 broad-ovate, acuminate or acute, varying to lanceolate or even 

 linear-lanceolate: flowers many, small to medium (smaller 

 than those of P. vulgaris), on short or long racemes, nearly 

 sessile or short-pediceled ; flower bracts small and not con- 

 spicuous, narrow: pod 2 to 3^2 in. long, broad and flat, usually 

 broadening toward the apex, with a long sharp beak, the 

 sides splitting away and twisting when ripe: seeds flat and 

 thin, not large, with lines radiating from the hilum or scar. — 

 Tropical America. 



Yar. macrocarpus, Benth. Fl. Bras, xv., pt, 1. 181. 1859- 

 1862. Lima Bean. A stronger stouter later plant, with large 

 thick mostly angled broader leaflets : pods larger, very broad 

 and flat, heavy, the point blunt or at least not very prominent : 

 seeds very large. — South America. Probably speciflcally dis- 



