OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1920. 43 



51741. Zizipiius spiNA-cHRiSTi (L.) Willd. Rhamnacese. 



From Haifa, Syria. Seeds presented by Aniram Khazanoff, Jewish Coloni- 

 zation Association. Received November 11, 1920. 

 " Fruit of Zizipiius spina-christi, locally known as sidr, which you may find 

 worth while experimentini,' with as a stock for the jujube." (Khazanoff.) 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 44361. 



51742. AcROcoMiA scLEROCAKrA Mart. Phoonicacca}. 



Macauba palm. 



From Lavras, Minas Geraes, Brazil. Seeds presented by P^scola Agrfcola. 

 Received November 15, 1920. 

 The gru gru, an exceedingly handsome palm, native to Trinidad and very 

 common there. It is tall growing, with a single stem about 1 foot in diameter, 

 ventricose, with long black spines all over the stem, and a handsome head of 

 very fine foliage; the leaves, 9 to 12 feet long, are gracefully drooping. The 

 abundant round fruits are yellowish brown and 2 inches in diameter. The 

 pulp of the fruits and kernels of the seeds are edible, and a valuable oil is ob- 

 tained from the latter. Handscune walking .sticks are made from the stems. 

 (Adapted from the Jowixal of the Board of Agriculture of British Guiana, vol. 

 12, p. 271.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 37382. 



51743. Prunus bokhariensis Royle. Amygdalacese. Plum. 



From Shahjahanpur, United Provinces, India. Seeds presented by N. L. 

 Rockey, district superintendent. -Received November 20, 1920. 



" Plum seed which I hope may be of some use, although I suppose that Cali- 

 fornia plums may have been derived from them. I do not know whether these 

 would make prunes or not. They are certainly sweet enough." (Rockey.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 439S8. 



51744 to 51747. Aconitum spp. RanimculaceEe. Monkshood. 



From Edinburgh, Scotland. Seeds presented by Dr. Isaac Bayley Balfour, 

 director. Royal Botanic Garden. Received November 23, 1920. 



51744. Aconitum ferox Wall. 



A plant with an erect stem 3 to 6 feet high, rounded, palmately trifid 

 leaS'es cut into irregularly indented lobes. The large pale-blue flowers 

 are in a terminal dense-flowered raceme. The mass of the root sold l)y 

 Indian druggists as aconite is derived from this species. The active prin- 

 ciple in the root is an alkaloid, pseudoaconitine. It is used as a narcotic 

 sedative, as an external application for neuralgia, etc., and internally 

 chiefly in the treatment of chronic intermittent fevers. (Adapted from 

 Watt, Dictionary of the Economic Plants of India, vol. 1, p. 87, and Na- 

 tional Standard Dispensatory, p. 98.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 38993. 



51745. Aconitum fischeri Reichenb. 



As a garden plant this is at once one of the best, and well worth grow- 

 ing in any collection of hardy plants. The growth reaches 4 to 6 feet, 

 terminated by a fine panicle of large, showy pale-blue flowers. It is an 

 autumn-flowering species from Siberia and Kamchatka. 



Medicinally, this plant is known as .Japanese aconite and is imported 

 quite largely into Europe, frequently finding its way to the United States. 

 The Japanese aconite contains as its active constituent an alkaloid called 

 japaconitine, which is now generally believed to be identical with aconi- 

 tine (the alkaloid in A. napellus). (Adapted from Flo7-n and Sylva, vol. 

 1, and National Standard Dispensatory, pp. 98 and 101.) 



51746. Aconitum septentrtonai.e Koelle. 



A plant native to the Himalayas from Chitral to Kumaon, mo.stly In 

 forests, locally abundant at altitudes of ."),000 to 12.000 feet in Kashmir. 

 The root is perennial, elongate ; the stem erect. 3 to feet high, nuich 

 branched. The flowers are pale yellow or dull purple, with a short-beaked 



