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Crab's Eye

Abrus precatorius

Habitat:

Hedgerow

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7 Comments

SanjaySaklani
SanjaySaklani 9 years ago

Gidee-gidee, Jequirity bean, Rosary pea, Precatory bean
Well Chewed or broken seeds are toxic when ingested. One seed contains sufficient toxin to kill an adult. However, if the seed remains unbroken then the toxin may not be released. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhoea, disorientation and death. Symptoms may be rapid or delayed 1–3 days.
As told to me during my childhood that this seed is used by jewelers to measure precious metals and is called "Ratti". A ratti is a traditional Indian unit of mass measurement, and has now been standardized[citation needed] as 0.12125 gram. It was measured by ratti seed. This seed is actually "Abrus precatorius" seed.

Alys1
Alys1 9 years ago

what a strange plant

SukanyaDatta
SukanyaDatta 9 years ago

LennyWorthington
About that poisonous bit...this is what Flowers of India has to say, "Jewelry-making with jequirity seeds is dangerous, and there have been cases of death by a finger-prick while boring the seeds for beadwork."
http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/sl...


We were fascinated by these beads as children...no one ever told us about it being so poisonous...but then we never ever touched one..only watched from far as gold was weighed on delicate brass scales. Thanks.

SukanyaDatta
SukanyaDatta 9 years ago

Hema, I only know these as Ratti...but you are right.

http://www.flowersofindia.net/catalog/sl...

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 9 years ago

Sukanya, Is this known as "Gunj" also? The leaves are edible and have a cooling effect on the tongue?Trying to recollect.

LennyWorthington
LennyWorthington 9 years ago

You're welcome Sukanya. I have read this in the past and believe they were also used as beads.They are very beautiful but also poisonous.Here in Thailand they are a common hedgerow "weed".Thank you for the information it is very interesting.

SukanyaDatta
SukanyaDatta 9 years ago

As a child, in India, I have seen goldsmiths use this seed to weigh gold. It was called a Ratti. Apparently all the seeds weighed the same...you brought some very old memories to light. Thank you.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratti

LennyWorthington
Spotted by
LennyWorthington

จังหวัดชัยภูมิ, Thailand

Spotted on Jul 22, 2014
Submitted on Jul 22, 2014

Spotted for Mission

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