274 
CALYCIFLORj'E. 
1 . Abrus precatorius. Wild Liquorice-vine . 
Phaseolus Glycyrrhizites folio alato, piso coccineo atra ma- 
cula notato, Sloane , I. 180. t. 112. f. 4. 5. 6. — Glycine scan- 
dens, Browne, 297. — Abrus precatorius, Linn. Syst. 533. — 
Gcertn. Fruct. II. 328. t. 151. 
HAB. Common on fences. 
FL. End of the year. 
A twining shrub. Leaves abruptly pinnated, many-paired. 
Flowers flesh-coloured. Seeds scarlet, white, or rufous, with 
the black spot larger or smaller. 
The roots of this plant are sold, in the streets of Calcutta, 
as a substitute for those of the common Liquorice of Europe. 
The leaves also have a similar taste, and an extract, resembling 
that of the Liquorice, and an infusion, much used as a diluent 
drink, may be prepared from them. The seeds have been in- 
correctly characterized by Browne, as very deleterious ; two 
or three, according to Herman, an author from whom he quotes, 
being a mortal dose. They are, on the contrary, perfectly in- 
nocuous, and, though hard and very indigestible, form, accord- 
ing to Prosper Alpinus, an article of food in Egypt. They are 
made use of in India, as weights. They are principally em- 
ployed, strung like beads, to form necklaces and rosaries : and 
it is, from their being employed for the latter purpose, that the 
plant has received the specific designation of Precatorius. 
XXII. Teramnus. 
Calyx bilabiate, upper lip bifid, inferior shorter, 
S-partite ; lobes acute. Keel very small, concealed 
in the calyx. Stamens monadelphous, alternately 
sterile. Stigma sessile, capitate, on the apex of the 
ovary. Legume linear, compressed, many-seeded, 
bivalved. — De Cand. 
SufFruticose, twining, natives of the Caribbees ; branches sub- 
angulated ; leaves 1-paired, with an odd leaflet ; racemes axil- 
lary, longer than the leaf ; flowers remote, small, of a reddish 
tinge. 
1 . Teramnus uncinatus. Hooked Teramnus. 
Branches sericeo-hirsute, leaves silky beneath and 
pubescent above, leaflets oblong or oblongo-lanceo- 
late. 
Teramnus triphyllus subhirsutus, Browne, 290. — T. uncina- 
tus, Swartz, FI. Ind. Occ. 1239. 
HAB. Common on fences and in waste places. 
FL. November, December. 
Stem suffrutescent at the base ; branches 3-quetrous, sericeo- 
