OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1920. 65 



51895. Phleum pratense L. Poacese. Timothy. 



From Christiania, Norway. Seeds presented by Dr. N. Wille, director, 

 Botanic Garden. Received December 14, 1920. 



"Norsk Timoteifro." (Wille.) 



A local Norse variety of timothy introduced for forage-crop investigations. 



51896. CoLOCASiA ESCULENTA (L.) Scliott. AracesB. Dasheen. 



Fi'om Broolisville, Fla. Grown at the Plant Introduction Garden. Re- 

 ceived at Washington, D. C, July 3, 1919 ; numbered in December, 1920. 

 "As grown at Broolvsville in 1920, these plants of imknown origin were 

 somewhat smaller than the Trinidad dasheen, were later in maturing than that 

 variety, and were all in flower early in November. Leaf petioles nearly plain 

 green, with upper part more or less shaded with maroon. Blade with very 

 irregular j^etiolar spot, extending along midrib and basal veins. Inflorescence 

 email, one to each plant. Tube of spathe 1* inches long ; limb, about 8 inches ; 

 pistillate portion of spadix, 1 inch. A SJ-inch corm tested in cooking was dry 

 and mealy and of good flavor. This dasheen, or taro, appears to be distinct 

 from any previously received." (R. A. Young.) 



51897. Stillingia sebifera (L.) Michx. Euphorbiaceoe. 

 (Sapium sebifenun Roxb.) 



From San Antonio, Tex. Seeds presented by the superintendent, San 

 Antonio Experiment Farm. Received November 10, 1920. 



This tree, which occurs in all the warmer parts of Cliina, is long lived, grow- 

 ing to 40 or 50 feet in height, with a diameter of 5 or 6 feet at maturity. The 

 foliage takes on beautiful tints in autumn. The fruits are three celled, flat- 

 tened-ovoid. and about three-fifths of an inch in diameter. When ripe they 

 are blackish brown and woody in appearance and are either gathered by 

 hand or knocked down by poles. After being collected, the fruits are spread 

 in the sun, where they open and each liberates three elliptical seeds which 

 are covered with a white substance. This covering is a fat or tallow and is 

 removed by steaming and rubbing through a bamboo sieve. The fat is col- 

 lected and melted, molded into cakes, and sold as the " pi-yu " of commerce. 

 The seeds from which the fat has been removed are crushed, and the oil 

 expressed from them is the " ting-yu " of commerce. In China the oil and 

 tallow are used in the manufacture of candles. Both these products are also 

 exported in quantity to Europe, where they are used in the manufacture of 

 soap. (Adapted from Wilson, A Naturalist in Western China, vol. 2, p. 67.) 



These seeds were collected from a tree sent to the experiment farm in 1910 

 under S. P. I. No. 23218. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47863. 



51898 to 52267. 



From East Africa. Seeds collected by Dr. H. L. Shantz, Agricultural Ex- 

 plorer of the United States Department of Agriculture. Received Octo- 

 ber 20, 1920. Quoted notes by Doctor Shantz. 



51898. Abutilon sp. Malvaceae. 



"(No. 1294. Butiaba. Northern Province, Uganda. July 19, 1920.) A 

 small yellow hibiscuslike flower with green foliage." 



51899. Abutilon sp. Malvaceae. 



"(No. 1325. Lur, Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. July 27, 1920.) A small 

 wait-a-bit with a smilaxlike leaf and a yellow flower." 



51900. Acacia scorpioides (L.) W. F. Wight. Mimosacea;. 

 (A. arahica Willd.) 



"(Nos. 1528 and 1528a. Jebelein, Serinar Province, Anglo-Egyptian 

 Sudan. August 14, 1920.) Qarat or garad; acacialike plant used for 

 tanning." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 50110. 



