219 



above arc referred to in Mexican works as 8. lutea and 8, purpurea, 

 but they probably represent more than two species, if, indeed, these 

 species are found in Mexico at all. In 1887 Dr. S. Watson described 

 from Tequila, State of Jalisco, a yellow-fruited form under the name of 

 8. mexicana, which appears to be the "ciruela amarilla," cultivated and 

 sold on the west coast as far north as Guaymas. 



The red-fruited form, which 1 saw only on the west coast, does not 

 answer the description of 8. purpurea, nor are the specimens like those 

 so named in the National Herbarium. 



The five forms obtained by me may be described brietly as follows: 



1. Yellow ciruela. — Fruit spherical, 2.5 to 3.1 cm. (I to 1^ inches) in 

 diameter, of light yellow color; surface of nut strongly roughened 

 with a kind of filigree work. 



2. Bed ciruela. — Fruit similar to the above, but perhaps smaller and 

 red in color. Trees said to be taller and less spreading. 



3. Wild ciruela. — Fruit much smaller than the two preceding, red in 

 color, the leaves of very different shape and size; a small shrub or bush 

 0.6 to 1.2 meters {2 to 4 feet) high. Found on low hills near Acaponcta. 



4. Ciruela (from State of Jalisco). — A tree similar to the common 

 yellow cirnela, but with very pubescent leaves; fruit yellow, about 2.5 

 cm. (1 inch) in diameter; nut with smooth surface. Only seen once, in 

 the State of Jalisco. The fruit is said not to be edible. 



5. Ciruela (from City of Mexico). — This was the largest plum seen. 

 Fruit oblong to obovate, 4.4 em. (1 : | inches) long, yellowish with a 

 pronounced blush; nuts large, not so much roughened as in the common 

 yellow-fruited form. I did not see the trees or foliage. I was told at 

 the National Museum of Mexico that this was true Spondiax lutea. 



Explanation of Plate XXIX. — Fig. 1, yellow cirnela, dried; fig. '1, the same, fresh; fig. 3, seed 

 of same; figs 4. 5, dried fruit and seed of a wild species; fig. 6, seeds of the cultivated red variety; figs. 

 7, 8, fruit and seeds of a largo yellow variety ; figs. 9, 10, fruit and seeds of a wild variety. 



] collected considerable material, but, as was usually the case, not as 

 much as would be desirable. Besides the herbarium specimens the 

 following material was obtained: 1 



EB No. 108, One fruit in alcohol, of common yellow ciruela, from Mazatlan, June 



18, 1897. 

 EB No. 10!). Nuts of name from Acaponeta, June, 1897. 

 EB No. 110. Dry fruit of red ciruela from Acaponcta, June, 1897. 

 EB No. 111. Nuts of same. 



Herb. No. 3076. Two fruits in formalin of ciruela from State of Jalisco. 

 Herb. No. 3076. Nuts of the same. 



EB No. 112. The dried fruit as sold at Guadalajara, probably of the yellow form. 

 EB No. 113. Two fruits in formalin of the larger ciruela purchased on the streets 



in the city of Mexico. 

 EB No. 115. Nuts of the same. 



1 The symbol EB denotes the Kthnobotanic collections of the author. 



