Rosary Pea

Rosary pea is a slender, perennial climber of the bean family that twines around trees, shrubs and hedges. It is native to Asia and Australia and is a severe weed in many warm regions where it has been introduced. Its hard, glossy seeds, mostly red and black, are made into beads and used in percussion instruments, but they are toxic because they contain abrin, and one well-chewed seed can kill. Siddha medicine has used the plant for centuries, taking a leaf tea for fevers, coughs and colds, and a white-seeded oil said to be an aphrodisiac; the seeds are only consumed after heat treatment. At Mathura, the seeds are associated with Vishnu and Krishna, and Krishna is sometimes shown wearing them on a mala.