Appearing in the Journal of the Society of the Arts in 1858, this mention of seeds used in ladies' fine work has me looking for magazine articles with patterns and pictures. So far no luck. The original pattern guides must be out there! Winter is coming, the perfect time for searching. Until then you may like to follow up on the folio of watercolors that illustrate the plant which seeds were used in decorative crafts at that time.
It is also commonly called, says Wikipedia, "wild tantan, prostrate bundleflower, dwarf koa, desmanto, acacia courant, acacia savane, pompon blank, adormidera, brusca prieta, frijolillo, ground tamarind, guajillo, guashillo, huarangillo, langalet, petit acacia, petit cassie, petit mimosa, virgate mimosa, and slender mimosa, as well as simply desmanthus."
It is also commonly called, says Wikipedia, "wild tantan, prostrate bundleflower, dwarf koa, desmanto, acacia courant, acacia savane, pompon blank, adormidera, brusca prieta, frijolillo, ground tamarind, guajillo, guashillo, huarangillo, langalet, petit acacia, petit cassie, petit mimosa, virgate mimosa, and slender mimosa, as well as simply desmanthus."
"The small brown seeds, something like apple pips, so commonly used, when strung thickly together, for bracelets, work-bags, nets for the hair, and other ornamental work, are the produce of Desmanthus virgatus. They are frequently dyed black for effect."This illustration is from unpublished watercolors from 1883-1888. Dr. A. Stahl published, on his own, a series of volumes for Etudios sobre para la flora de Porto-Rico but the last volume was not done.
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| Fabaceae. Stahl Watercolor Number 130b, species Desmanthus virgatus @ Smithsonian Institution |
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