222 
25. LEGUMLNOSJE. 
Subv. II. passes by such imperceptible gradations into I. and 
III., that it is only bere retained conventionally to avoid con- 
fusion, and because of P. gonospermos Savi. The Portuguese, 
as may be seen from the recurrence of the same name under 
each of the above subvarr., depend alone on colour, neglecting 
shape, which indeed is often merely due to pressure caused by 
a greater number than usual of seeds in the same pod. On the 
other hand, the gradations of colour are perhaps equally fluc- 
tuating, numerous, and accidental. 
In the valley of Porto da Cruz, the sorts most esteemed for 
productiveness are, 1. F. rqjado, 2. F. de Lisboa, and 3. F. menino. 
The young green pods, used so much in England sliced and 
boiled as a vegetable under the name of French or Kidney Beans, 
are called by the Portuguese “Bajinhas,” but are not employed 
by them for food. The ripe seeds, “Feijoens,” called by the 
French u Haricots,” constitute however a great proportion of the 
daily food of the poor or labouring population, and are a favourite 
ingredient in their “ Sopas” with all classes. The quantity 
produced annually, especially in S. Vicente, is prodigious. 
ft. nana ; F. rasteiro or F. da vassoura ; st. short dwarfish, low 
and scarcely tunning (6-18 in. high). — P. nanus Linn. ; Brot. ii. 
130. P. compressus a. 1)C. P. oblongus, saponaceus Savi, DC. 
1. c. — Ilerb. ann. Mad. reg. 2, cult. £. — Comparatively with a. 
little cultiv. in Mad. except at S. Vicente. — Varies with seeds, 
I. oblong-reniform compressed (P. compresus a. DC. ; P. sapona- 
ceus Savi, DC. 1. c.) ; II. seeds oblong-tumid, rounded or cylindric 
(P. oblongus Savi, DC. 1. c.) ; and III. seeds spherical or turgid- 
ovate (P. tumulus Savi, DC. 1. c.), — each subvariety presenting 
much the same phases of colour as those of var. a. procera. 
Of ft. I., two pretty small-seeded states, not exactly above 
enumerated under a. I. B or C, are the F. de calhdo, with 
small compressed reniform seeds 5 lines long X 3 broad, which 
are either, 1. light or dark liver-brown with black streaks or 
stripes, or, 2. black with minute liver-brown specks. 
P. multijlorus Willd., DC. ii. 392 = P. coccineus Desf. ii. 155 
(misplaced by DC. amongst the ann. sp.), very distinct specifi- 
cally by its per. roots, rac. longer than 1., very long mostly curved 
or falcate pods, usually bright scarlet fl, and larger compressed 
reniform seeds mottled black and flesh-colour, known commonly 
in England by the name of u Scarlet Runner,” and called by 
the Portuguese Feijoa, is seldom cultivated in Mad., where 
the roots, reported to be poisonous by authors, are said to be of 
7 years’ duration. 
