Page:An introduction to physiological and systematical botany (1st edition).djvu/476

 446 several species of which are so valuable for dyeing blue; the handsome Robinia, ''Curt. Mag. t. 311; Cytisus, t. 176, &c.; and Clitoria, Ins. of Georgia, t. 18: also Lotus, Engl. Bot. t. 925, and Medicago, t.'' 1616; which last is justly transferred by Willdenow from the foregoing section to this.

Papilionaceous plants are rarely noxious to the larger tribes of animals, though some species of Galega intoxicate fish. The seeds of Cytisus Laburnum have of late been found violently emetic, and those of Lathyrus sativus have been supposed at Florence to soften the bones, and cause death; we know of no other similar instances in this Class, which is one of the most abundant in valuable esculent plants. The negroes have a notion that the beautiful little scarlet and black seeds of Abrus precatorius, so frequently used for necklaces, are extremely poisonous, insomuch that half of one is sufficient to kill a man. This is totally incredible. Linnæus however asserts rather too absolutely, that "among all the leguminous or papilionaceous tribe there is no deleterious plant to be found."