physostigma

[Pref. physo-, and English stigma (q. v.). So named from a great oblique hood covering the stigma.] Bot.: A genus of Legumin ose, tribe Phaseoleæ. Physostigma venenosum is the Calabar Bean from Western Africa. It is a twining climber, with pin nately trifoliate leaves, purplish flowers, and leg umes about six inches long. It is very poisonous, but a watery solution has been used externally in certain affections of the eye, and internally in poi soning by strychnia, in tetanus, chorea, general paralysis of the insane. [ORDEAL-BEAN.] phy-şō-stig-mine, subst. [Mod. Lat. physostig m(a); -ine.] [ESERINE.]