The non-bacillar nature of abrus-poison : with observations on its chemical and physiological properties / by L.A. Waddell.

  • Waddell, L. A. (Laurence Austine), 1854-1938.
Date:
1884
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The non-bacillar nature of abrus-poison : with observations on its chemical and physiological properties / by L.A. Waddell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    APPENDICES. APPENDIX I. THE BOTANICAL CHARACTERS OF ABRUS PRECATORIUS (WILLD). Abras Precatorius (1) (Nat. Ord. Leguminosse) is commonly known as the Indian liquorice plant. In Bangal it is called hunch or gunj; its Hindustani name is ratU. It is one of the most common plants in every part of India, and appears also to be indigenous to Brazil, where it is called jequirity. Wallace (2) accounts for its extensive distribution by supposing that birds are specially attracted by the bright colour of the seeds ; but the hardness of the envelope allows the seeds to pass through the alimentary canal undigested, and so they get deposited in a remote locality. Boxburgh (3) describes its botanical characters as follows :— “ Flowering time at the close of the rains. Root ramous ; stem ligneous, twining ; bark smooth; young shoots with a few white depressed hairs. Leaves alternate, abruptly pinnate, from two to six inches long. Leaflets opposite, subsessile, from eight to fifteen pair, linear, oblong, smooth, entire, both ends obtuse, the lower pair smaller. Petioles, the common channelled on the upper side, and a little hairy. Stipules of the leaves lanceolate, of the leaflets minute. Racemes, axillary, solitary, long peduncled. The peduncle itself horizontal, thick, and strong ; often leaf-bearing. The raceme, or flower-bearing part, erect, secund, with the apex pro- jecting in a curve. Flowers numerous, short pedicelled, inserted on two rows of large, alternate, round, glandular tuberosities growing on the exterior side of the raceme, pretty large and of a pale pink colour. Calyx campanulate, mouth obscurely five- toothed. Corolla; banner ovate, sides deflected, apex ascending the length of the wings. Wings falcate, projecting horizontally. Keel cimbiform, the length of the other petals. Filaments nine, (1) Abrus is given by Prosper Alpinus (1592) as the name of the plant in Egypt, where the seeds were used for necklaces. Theis derives it from delicate. (Bentley and Trimen’s Medicinal Plants. No. 77.) (2) Tropical Nature. (3) Flora Indica, p. 544, ed. 1874.