APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1910. 77 



28278. Medic ago sativa L. Alfalfa. 



From Pinchow, Shensi, China. Presented by Mr. Berthold Laufer, Peking, who 

 procured them from Mr. Nelson, China Inland Mission, Pinchow. Received 

 June 28, 1910. 



"The young plants of this are much used for greens, and eaten by the people. For 

 fodder it is nearly all used green. The Chinese do not dry much clover for hay. As a 

 rule it is cut three times throughout the summer, not reckoning when they first pick the 

 tender plants for greens. I think this variety will grow on most any kind of soil." 

 (Nelson.) 



28279 to 28285. 



From. Mexico. Presented by Dr. J. N. Rose, associate curator, U. S. National 

 Museum, Washington, D. C. Received June 20, 1910. 



Seeds of the following; notes by Dr. J. N. Rose: 



28279 to 28282. Cucurbita spp. 



28279. From San Bias. Collected by Messrs. Rose, Standley, and 

 Russell, in 1910. "A climbing vine; fruit nearly globular, yellow 

 streaked with narrow bands of white, 3 inches long." 



28280. From Culiacan. Collected by Messrs. Rose, Standley, and 

 Russell. "A climbing vine; fruit globular or a little broader then 

 long, streaked with alternating bands of yellow and white, 2\ inches 

 long." 



28281. From Mazatlan. Collected by Messrs. Rose, Standley, and 

 Russell, April 4, 1910. "A climbing vine; fruit egg shaped, 4 inches 

 long, dark green with yellowish markings." 



28282. From Acaponeta. "A climbing vine; fruk oblong, 3£ inches 

 long, lemon yellow, with narrow stripes of white." 



£8283. Malvaviscus sp. 



From Mazatlan. "Shrub or small tree 10 to 20 feet high with large cordate 

 leaves. The scarlet flowers are very attractive and are followed by globular 

 scarlet fruit. This tree is cultivated in patios at Mazatlan, and I would suggest 

 trying these seeds in Florida and southern California. Only a few species of 

 Malvaviscus are in cultivation, although most of the species are very attract- 

 ive. I have been unable to indentify the species, but it is a near relative of 

 Malvaviscus grandiflora." 



28284. Momordica zeylanica Mill. 



From near Culiacan. Collected by Messrs. Rose, Standley, and Russell, in 

 1910. "A vine climbing to the height of 10 to 20 feet, forming a dense mass of 

 foliage and producing an abundance of small orange-colored fruits which open, 

 exposing the bright-scarlet seeds. More delicate and attractive than the other 

 species in cultivation. A -splendid climber for trellis work." 



28285. Tabebuia sp. 



From Alamos. Collected by Messrs. Rose, Standley, and Russell, in 1910. 

 "A tree 20 feet high. Produces an abundance of large yellow Catalpa-like 

 flowers which appear before the leaves. The leaves are compound and some- 

 what like the horse-chestnut. It would be a desirable ornamental shrub or tree 

 for the arid part of the Southwest. It is probably an undescribed species." 

 208 



