4 BULLETIN 318, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
BOTANICAL NAMES. 
Dolichos lablab is the usual botanical name applied to the bonavist, 
and apparently this species must be considered the type of the genus 
Dolichos. By some botanists the bonavist is not considered con- 
generic with most of the species that have been included in the genus 
Dolichos. On this account Adanson established the genus Lablab in 
1763 (1). which has been accepted by many botanists. Whether one 
genus be recognized or two, the name Dolichos should be maintained 
for the bonavist. as this clearly stands for Linneeus's idea of the 
genus. 
Dolichos lablab was so named in 1753 by Linnaeus (10), who based 
it primarily on an Egyptian plant described and figured by 
Alpino (2). Lablab, or liblab, is the Egyptian name. Alpino de- 
scribes the seeds as black or dark reddish, but does not state the color 
of the flowers. Later writers seem to have overlooked the fact that 
the species is based on Alpino's Egyptian plant. De Candolle (3, 
p. 401) calls the black-seeded Egyptian plant Lablab vulgaris niger. 
Schweinfurth and Muschler (13) name a purple-flowered Egyptian 
variety Dolichos lablab var. hortensis-, but this is not unlikely the 
same as that originally described by Alpino. 
Linngeus (11, p. 1021) later described as a species Dolichos pur- 
pureus, based on a plant from the Indies with flowers, stems, petioles, 
and leaf veins purple. This name as used by later botanists has 
usually been considered a variety of Dolichos lablab and has been 
applied to any sort that had the foliage more or less purple tinged. 
Dolichos benghalensis Jacquin (6) represents a variety of bonavist 
from Bengal with white flowers, white, fleshy, falcate pods, and 
reddish purple seeds. It is very similar to S. P. I. No. 25154. De 
Candolle (3, p. 401) renamed Jacquin's plant Lablab vulgaris var. 
albiflorus. 
Dolichos albus Loureiro (12), from Cochin China and China, is 
based on a sort with white flowers and pubescent leaves, but the color 
of the seeds is not stated. 
Lablab perennans De Candolle (3, p. 402) is based on Loureiro's 
(12) description of Dolichos albus. De Candolle says that the seeds 
are white. Loureiro, as well as De Candolle. cites also plate 137 of 
Rumphius (16), illustrating a plant which is described as having 
white flowers, white seeds, and pods broadest toward the apex, as 
shown by the drawing. 
Dolichos cultratus Thunberg (19) is based on one of the varieties 
grown in Japan. The color of the flowers and seeds is not given, 
but the pods are acinacif orm : that is, broadest toward the apex. 
Lablab nankinicus Savi (17, p. 119), as described by Savi. is a 
variety with white flowers, ovate, turgid white seeds, and short, firm- 
