12 SEEDS AXD PLANTS IMPORTED. 



55619 to 55620— Continued. 



tude. The pinnate leaves, 4 to 6 feet in length, are borne on a trunk 6 to 

 12 feet high, and the very numerous flowers, occuning on a densely flow- 

 ered, much-branched spadix, are pale pink. The young inflorescence is 

 eaten by the natives of New Zealand. (Adapted from Curtis' s Botanical 

 Magazine, pi. 5139.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 54298. 



55620. ViTEx LUCENS Kirk. Verbenacese. Puriri. 



A fine tree, from 50 to 60 feet in height, native to New Zealand, but 

 restricted to the northern part of North Island. It is often called the 

 New Zealand oak on account of the strength and durability of its wood, 

 which is not injured by damp or exposure and is therefore extremely 

 valuable for shipbuilding purposes. The logs are often perforated with 

 holes, the work of a soft-bodied grub which develops into the puriri moth. 

 These holes do not affect the timber except that it sometimes has to 

 be cut to disadvantage. 



The handsome, bright glossy green leaves are three to five foliolate with 

 leaflets 3 to 4 inches long. The pink or red 2-lipped flowers, produced more 

 or less all the year round, are in axillary clusters of four to eight. The 

 roots of the puriri never penetrate deeply into the ground, but lie near 

 the surface, so the tree is easily blown over in a gale. (Adapted from 

 Laing and Blacktcell, Plants of Neio Zealand, p. 350.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47881. 



55621. Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. Aquifoliacese. Yerba mat^. 



From Buenos Aires, Argentina. Plants presented by D. S. Bullock, agri- 

 cultural commissioner. Bureau of Agricultural Economics, United States 

 Department of Agriculture. Received August 9, 1922. 



A small, bushy evergreen tree with alternate serrate leaves, native to Brazil 

 and Paraguay and the neighboring countries. The leaves are roasted and 

 ground to make the Paraguay tea of commerce, which is said to possess the 

 desirable properties of tea and coffee without their injurious aftereffects. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. .55489. 



55622. Datura leichhardtii F. Muell. Solanacese. 



Fi-om Brisbane, Queensland. Seeds presented by C. T. White, Government 

 botanist. Received August 9, 1922. 



Introduced for the use of geneticists working on the chromosome behavior of 

 this genus. 



A tall coarse herb with irregularly toothed oval leaves 3 to 4 inches long, 

 pale yellowish white flowers about 3 inches in length, and very prickly globular 

 capsules about an inch in diameter. The plant is native in northern Australia. 

 (Adapted from Bentham, Flora Australiensis, vol. 4, P- ^68.) 



55623. Phleum PRATENSE L. Poaceae. Timothy. 



From Christiania, Norway. Presented by Dr. N. Wille, director, Botanic 

 Garden. Received August 8, 1922. 



" This strain of timothy is from Lierfoss, Norway, where seed culture has 

 been carried on for 20 years." {Wille.) 



Locally grown seed introduced for timothy breeding experiments. 



55624. Citrus sp. Kutacese. 



From Johannesburg, Transvaal. Seeds presented by Col. A. J. Bester. 

 Received August 15, 1922. 



" When I visited the great Symbabian ruins in central Africa in 1911 I dis- 

 covered a new citrus fruit; I collected seeds and brought them back, and now 

 the variety is distributed all over the Transvaal. The smooth-skinned fruits 

 are much like a big lime in shape and the abundant fine-flavored juice is very 

 sweet." (Bester.) 



