Botanical Name - Abrus

----- A. precatorius, Linn.; F.B.I. II-166. Brandis' Ind. Trees, 225. Vern. Gumchi, Gunch, Hind. Erra-gurja, Tel. Khaksi, Mar. "Jequirity" or "Indian liquorice".

----- A much-branched climber with a woody stem. Leaves paripinnate, 2-3 in. long, the common petiole terminating in a slender short bristle. Leaflets 20-40, opposite, deciduous, 3/8-5/8 by 1/2-1 in. long, oblong-strap-shaped, membranous, glabrous or thinly silky beneath. Flowers 1/10-1/6 in. long, reddish or white, in dense pedunculate recemes which are shorter than or as long as the leaves ; peduncles often leaf bearing. Calyx 1/12 in. Corolla 3-4 times the calyx, Stamens 9, united in a tube split above ; anthers uniform. Pod 1-1 1/2 by 3/8-1/2 in., oblong, swollen, 3-5-seeded. Seeds about 1/5. in. long, ovoid or sub-globose, generally 2/3 scarlet or white and the rest black, with a large white hilum in the black part, sometimes wholly black or white, smooth, shining.

----- Very common everywhere, growing in the hedges of fields and scrambling over bushes in the forest. The seeds known as "rati" or "rakti" are of pretty constant weight, about 2 grains, and are used by native jewellers for weighing gold and precious stones. The seeds, roots, leaves and other parts of the plant are irritant when applied to mucous membranes, but may be swallowed in considerable quantity without producing any ill effect ; but if a small quantity of the seeds or other portions of the plant be bruised and their juice injected under the skin of an animal, it rapidly proves fatal. it is largely used in some parts of India for the criminal poisoning of cattle, and occasionally for homicidal purposes. For poisining cattle, it is used by the low caste "Chamars" in order to procure hides cheap. They pound the decorticated seeds into a paste with water and roll the mass into small sharp-pointed spikes or needles (sui or sutari), which they harden in the sun. When used, two of the suis which are about 3/4 in. in length, are inserted into holes in a wooden handle by their base. A blow is then struck with great force driving the sui into the animal's flesh, where it is left, and causes death within 18-24 hours. The root of this plant is officinal in the Pharmacopaeia of India as a substitute for liquorice.