JUNE 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1920. 49 



" Seeds brought in by Stafford Hanim. an American mining engineer, a gift 

 from Sr. Badilla. wlio owns an estate in tlie liigh mountains. Tliis grass is said 

 to be extremely resistant to cold and to grow almost without moisture. It is a 

 good soil binder on lands which are subject to high winds and occasional heavy 

 lains." (McQueen.) 



51058 to 51060. 



From Chama, Alta Vera Paz, Guatemala. Seed presented by Harry John- 

 , son. Received July 12, 1920. Quoted notes by Mr. Johnson. 



51058. Begonia sp. Begoniacete. Begonia. 

 "(No. 190.) Beuonia scandeiiH of gardenei-s( ?)." 



51059. PrPEB TUBERCULATUM JacQ. Piperaccss. Pepper. 



"(No. 188.) CordonciUa. The dried flower spikes are used in the same 

 manner as Piper nigriun. It is used liere in the preparation of cha-al- 

 cacao, a very good drink made by coarsely grinding the cacao with cinna- 

 mon and pepper. The flavor is a little different from black or white 

 pepper and may be appreciated as a new condiment." 



51060. Heckekia sp. Piperacese. Pepper.. 



"(No. 189.) 01)el (Kekchi name). The young leaves have a rather 

 pleasant taste and are used to flavor fish, soups, stews, meats, etc. The 

 plant is pretty when small, but soon grows ' leggj-.' The' large roundish 

 leaves are green." 



61061. Cassia elegans Voigt. Caesalpiniacea?. 



From Cuzco, Peru. Seeds presented by A. A. Giesecke. Received July 15, 

 1920. 



A shrubby ornamental Cassia with feathery pinnate leaves coniposed of ob- 

 tuse lanceolate leaflets having yellowish midribs. Its original habitat is un- 

 known, since the plant is known only in cultivation. (Adapted fi-om Voif/t, in 

 Sylloge Pfantarum Ratislonensi, vol. 2, p. 55.) 



51062 to 51068. 



From East Melbourne, Victoria. Seeds presented by M. Medson. Received 

 July 17, 1920. 



51062. Backhousia citbiodora F. Muell. Myrtacese. 



An Australian tree 18 to 20 feet high, with lemon-scented foliage like 

 that of the scented verbena (Lippia citriodora) . The essential oil from 

 the leaves has been found suitable for scenting soaps, and the dried leaves 

 give a very pleasant odor to linen closets, etc. The pinkish wood is hard 

 and fine grained. (Adapted from Maiden, Useful Native Plants of 

 Australia, pp. 290, 381.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 33643. 



51063. DoEYANTHEs PALMERi W. Hill. Auiaryllidaceie. 



A beautiful member of the amaryllis family, native to Australia, 

 where it grows to a height of 8 or 10 feet, with very numerous sword- 

 shaped leaves up to 8 feet in length. The scarlet flowers are borne in a 

 thyrsus about 3 feet long. (Adapted from Curtis's Botanical Mayuz'ine, 

 pi. 6665.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 23433. 



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