BU'NIU3I, a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Ur/PM/Vera., the sub-order Orthospermecr, and the tribe Amminece. It has an obsolete calyx ; obcordate petals, with a broad obtuse inflexed point ; an oblong fruit, the carpels with 5 filiform equal ridges ; the interstices with 1 or 3 vittT ; the etylopodium conical. The species are perennial herbs with usually tuberose and globose roots, square stems, compound leaves, and white flowers.
B. fle.ruosum, the Pig-Nut, has a general involucre of 1-3 leaves, par tial more numerous; fruit oval, narrowing upwards, crowned with the elongated stylopodinm and erect styles, interstices with 3 vittre. This species is the B. denudatune of De Candollo it is a native of the west and south of Europe, and plentiful in Great Britain. It has a nearly globular root, of a black or chestnut colour on the outside and white inside. It has an aromatic sweet taste, and is frequently dug np and eaten by children. It is called in this country by many names, as Earth-Nut, Ar-Nut, Kipper-Nut, Hawk-Nut, Jur-Nut, Earth Chest nut, and Ground Nut, The synonyms are almost as numerous in the French and German languages. Pigs are very fond of this nut, and
get fat when they are allowed to feed on them. When boiled they are a pleasant and nutritious food. Roasted, they are preferred by some people to chestnuts, and are often in this country and on the Continent added to soup or broth.
B. Bulbocastanum of Linnxue is a different species from the latter, though often confounded with it. Its general and partial involucree are composed of numerous leaves, the fruit oblong, crowned with the short etylopodium and reflexed styles, the interstices with single vitte. This plant has been discovered in chalky fields in Cambridgeshire and Herta, and is probably more generally diffused. George Don enumerates in the 'Gardener's Dictionary' sixteen species of Runium.
(Balsington, Manual of Brit. Bet.)