What is "dolichos"

Pea \Pea\, n.; pl. Peasor Pease. [OE. pese, fr. AS. pisa, or OF. peis, F. pois; both fr. L. pisum; cf. Gr. ?, ?. The final s was misunderstood in English as a plural ending. Cf. Pease.]

1. (Bot.) A plant, and its fruit, of the genus Pisum, of many varieties, much cultivated for food. It has a papilionaceous flower, and the pericarp is a legume, popularly called a pod.

   Note: When a definite number, more than one, is spoken of, the plural form peas is used; as, the pod contained nine peas; but, in a collective sense, the form pease is preferred; as, a bushel of pease; they had pease at dinner. This distinction is not always preserved, the form peas being used in both senses.

2. A name given, especially in the Southern States, to the seed of several leguminous plants (species of Dolichos, Cicer, Abrus, etc.) esp. those having a scar (hilum) of a different color from the rest of the seed. Note: The name pea is given to many leguminous plants more or less closely related to the common pea. See the Phrases, below. Beach pea (Bot.), a seashore plant, Lathyrus maritimus. Black-eyed pea, a West Indian name for Dolichos sph[ae]rospermus and its seed. Butterfly pea, the American plant Clitoria Mariana, having showy blossoms. Chick pea. See Chick-pea. Egyptian pea. Same as Chick-pea. Everlasting pea. See under Everlasting. Glory pea. See under Glory, n. Hoary pea, any plant of the genus Tephrosia; goat's rue. Issue pea, Orris pea. (Med.) See under Issue, and Orris. Milk pea. (Bot.) See under Milk. Pea berry, a kind of a coffee bean or grain which grows single, and is round or pea-shaped; often used adjectively; as, pea-berry coffee. Pea bug. (Zo["o]l.) Same as Pea weevil. Pea coal, a size of coal smaller than nut coal. Pea crab (Zo["o]l.), any small crab of the genus Pinnotheres, living as a commensal in bivalves; esp., the European species ( Pinnotheres pisum) which lives in the common mussel and the cockle. Pea dove (Zo["o]l.), the American ground dove. Pea-flower tribe (Bot.), a suborder ( Papilionace[ae]) of leguminous plants having blossoms essentially like that of the pea. --G. Bentham. Pea maggot (Zo["o]l.), the larva of a European moth ( Tortrix pisi), which is very destructive to peas. Pea ore (Min.), argillaceous oxide of iron, occurring in round grains of a size of a pea; pisolitic ore. Pea starch, the starch or flour of the common pea, which is sometimes used in adulterating wheat flour, pepper, etc. Pea tree (Bot.), the name of several leguminous shrubs of the genus Caragana, natives of Siberia and China. Pea vine. (Bot.)

   1. Any plant which bears peas.

   2. A kind of vetch or tare, common in the United States ( Lathyrus Americana, and other similar species).

      Pea weevil (Zo["o]l.), a small weevil ( Bruchus pisi) which destroys peas by eating out the interior.

      Pigeon pea. (Bot.) See Pigeon pea.

      Sweet pea (Bot.), the annual plant Lathyrus odoratus; also, its many-colored, sweet-scented blossoms.

Dolichos or Dolichus is derived from the Ancient Greek word for "long" (wiktionary:δολιχός). It may refer to

• Dolichus (beetle), a genus of insects
• Dolichos (plant), a genus of plants
• Dolichos (running race), a race in the ancient Olympics

Dolichos or Dolichus ( Greek: , English translation: "long race") in the ancient Olympic Games was a long-race (ca. 4800 m) introduced in 720 BC. Separate accounts of the race present conflicting evidence as to the actual length of the dolichos. However, the average stated length of the race was approximately 18-24 laps, or about three miles. The event was run similarly to modern marathons - the runners would begin and end their event in the stadium proper, but the race course would wind its way through the Olympic grounds. The course would often flank important shrines and statues in the sanctuary, passing by the Nike statue by the temple of Zeus before returning to the stadium.

Dolichos is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae, and the subfamily Faboideae. It is distributed in Africa and Asia.

The lablab bean (Lablab purpureus) was formerly included in Dolichos.

These are herbs and shrubs growing upright, sometimes with climbing stems, or spreading prostrate upon the ground. They have woody rhizomes. The leaves have single blades or are pinnate, divided into three leaflets. The plants sometimes produce their leaves after flowering. The flowers are solitary or in racemes of several. The flowers are white or purple, or occasionally yellow. The fruit is a flattened legume pod.

The plants' general form, annual stems sprouting from a large perennial rootstock, is thought to be adapted to habitat prone to seasonal wildfire.

Some of the species grow to heights of 30 feet. The average Dolichos is between 5 and 10 feet high.

There are about 60 species.

Species include:

• Dolichos aciphyllus
• Dolichos angustifolius
• Dolichos angustissimus
• Dolichos antunesii
• Dolichos argyros
• Dolichos axilliflorus
• Dolichos bellus
• Dolichos bianoensis
• Dolichos brevidentatus
• Dolichos capensis
• Dolichos cardiophyllus
• Dolichos complanatus
• Dolichos compressus
• Dolichos corymbosus
• Dolichos decumbens
• Dolichos dinklagei
• Dolichos dongaluta
• Dolichos elatus
• Dolichos falciformis
• Dolichos fangitsa
• Dolichos filifoliolus
• Dolichos formosanus
• Dolichos fragrans
• Dolichos glabratus
• Dolichos glabrescens
• Dolichos grandistipulatus
• Dolichos gululu
• Dolichos hastiformis
• Dolichos homblei
• Dolichos ichthyophone
• Dolichos junghuhnianus
• Dolichos karaviaensis
• Dolichos katali
• Dolichos kilimandscharicus Taub.
• Dolichos linearifolius
• Dolichos linearis
• Dolichos longipes
• Dolichos lualabensis
• Dolichos luticola
• Dolichos magnificus
• Dolichos mendoncae
• Dolichos minutiflorus
• Dolichos nimbaensis
• Dolichos oliveri Schweinf.
• Dolichos peglerae
• Dolichos petiolatus
• Dolichos pratensis
• Dolichos pseudocajanus
• Dolichos pseudocomplanatus
• Dolichos quarrei
• Dolichos reptans
• Dolichos rhombifolius
• Dolichos schweinfurthii
• Dolichos sericeus
• Dolichos sericophyllus
• Dolichos serpens
• Dolichos simplicifolius
• Dolichos smilacinus
• Dolichos splendens
• Dolichos staintonii
• Dolichos subcapitatus
• Dolichos tenuicaulis
• Dolichos thorelii
• Dolichos tonkouiensis
• Dolichos trilobus
• Dolichos trinervatus Baker
• Dolichos ungoniensis
• Dolichos xiphophyllus
• Dolichos zovuanyi