Question

Which of the following plant's seeds are used as 'Jeweller's weight'?

• A. Cajanus cajan
• B. Lens culinaris
• C. Glycine max
• D. Abrus precatorius

Answer 1

The correct option is D Abrus precatorius

Rosary pea (Abrus precatorius) is a slender, perennial climber, that twines around trees, shrubs, and hedges. It is a legume with alternate compound leaves, 2 to 5 inches long, with 5 to 15 pairs of oblong leaflets.

A key characteristic in identifying rosary pea is the lack of a terminal leaflet on the compound leaves. The plant is best known for its seeds, which are used as beads in native jewelry, as well as in percussion instruments. Necklaces and other ornaments made from the seeds are worn by both children and adults. The red variety with black eye is the most common coloring for the seeds, but there are black, white and green varieties as well. These seeds are toxic due to the presence of abrin. The outer shell of the seed protects the contents from the stomachs of most mammals. Formerly Indians used these seeds to weigh gold using a measure called as 'Ratti'.