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Abrus precatorius

Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Licorice \Lic"o*rice\ (l[i^]k"[-o]*r[i^]s), n. [OE. licoris,
   through old French, fr. L. liquiritia, corrupted fr.
   glycyrrhiza, Gr. glyky`rriza; glyky`s sweet + "ri`za root.
   Cf. {Glycerin}, {Glycyrrhiza}, {Wort}.] [Written also
   {liquorice}.]
   1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus {Glycyrrhiza} ({G. glabra}),
      the root of which abounds with a sweet juice, and is much
      used in demulcent compositions.

   2. The inspissated juice of licorice root, used as a
      confection and for medicinal purposes.

   {Licorice fern} (Bot.), a name of several kinds of polypody
      which have rootstocks of a sweetish flavor.

   {Licorice sugar}. (Chem.) See {Glycyrrhizin}.

   {Licorice weed} (Bot.), the tropical plant {Scapania dulcis}.
      

   {Mountain licorice} (Bot.), a kind of clover ({Trifolium
      alpinum}), found in the Alps. It has large purplish
      flowers and a sweetish perennial rootstock.

   {Wild licorice}. (Bot.)
      (a) The North American perennial herb {Glycyrrhiza
          lepidota}.
      (b) Certain broad-leaved cleavers ({Galium circ[ae]zans}
          and {G. lanceolatum}).
      (c) The leguminous climber {Abrus precatorius}, whose
          scarlet and black seeds are called {black-eyed
          Susans}. Its roots are used as a substitute for those
          of true licorice ({Glycyrrhiza glabra}).

Vetch \Vetch\, n. [Also fitch; OE. ficche, feche, for veche, OF.
   veche, vecce, vesche, vesce, F. vesce, fr. L. vicia.] (Bot.)
   Any leguminous plant of the genus {Vicia}, some species of
   which are valuable for fodder. The common species is {V.
   sativa}.

   Note: The name is also applied to many other leguminous
         plants of different genera; as the chichling vetch, of
         the genus {Lathyrus}; the horse vetch, of the genus
         {Hippocrepis}; the kidney vetch ({Anthyllis
         vulneraria}); the milk vetch, of the genus
         {Astragalus}; the licorice vetch, or wild licorice
         ({Abrus precatorius}).

Jequirity \Je*quir"i*ty\, n., or Jequirity bean \Je*quir"i*ty
bean`\ [Prob. fr. a native name.] (Bot.)
   The seed of the wild licorice ({Abrus precatorius}) used by
   the people of India for beads in rosaries and necklaces, as a
   standard weight, etc.; -- called also {jumble bead}.
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