JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1921. 7 



53896 to 53908— Contimied. 



53906. RuMEX MARiTiMus L. Polygonacere. 



An annual common in marshes in Assam, Bengal, and the plains of 

 northern India. In the Punjab Himalayas it is found in similar localities 

 up to 12,000 feet. It is distributed to Europe, Asia, North Africa, and 

 North and South America. Tlie plant has cooling properties and is often 

 eaten by natives as a potherb especially in the warm weather. The 

 leaves are used medicinally. {Vol. 6, pt. 1, p. 591.) 



53907. RuMEX vEsicARius L. Polygonaceje. 



An annual 6 to 12 inches high, native to the western Punjab, the Salt 

 Range, and the Transindus Hills and cultivated throughout India as a 

 vegetable; it is eaten either raw or cooked. It is usually grown in patches 

 near a well and may be procured almost all the year round. The entire 

 plant is used medicinally. {Vol. 6, pt. 1, p. 592.) 



53908. Trichosanthes anouina L. Cucurbitaceae. 



An annual creeper which probably was originally wild in India or the 

 Indian Ai-chipelago. It is cultivated throughout India as a rainy season 

 crop for its long cucumberlike fruits, which are cooked and eaten as a 

 vegetable, either boiled or in curries. When young it is prettily striped 

 with wliite and green ; when ripe it varies in length from 1 to 3 feet 

 and is of a brilliant orange color. If gathered when very young, less 

 than 4 inches in length, and cut into thin strips, it may be cooked 

 in the same way as French beans and forms a very fair substitute for 

 that vegetable. {Vol. 6, pt. J,, p. 81.) 



' For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 51824. 



53909. Dendrocalamus hamiltonii Nees and Arn. Poacese. 



Bamboo. 



From Dehra Dun, India. Seeds presented by R. S. Hole, forest botanist. 

 Forest Research Institute and College. Received July 29, 1921. 



The common bamboo of the eastern Himalayas with large stems 3 to 6 inches 

 in diameter, rather hollow and not always straight, but used for every variety 

 of purpose. This bamboo grows gregariously on hillsides up to 3.000 feet, and 

 the stems are 40 to 60 feet high. They often grow low and tangled instead 

 of straight ; the bamboo may be recognized by this characteristic and by the 

 very thick shoots which grow out at the nodes. The young shoots are eaten. 

 (Adapted from Gamble, A Manual of Indian Timbers, p. 430.) 



A forest growth of this edible bamboo is shown in Plate I. 



For previous introduction see S. P. I. No. 48266. 



53910 to 53912. 



From Nice, France. Seeds presented by Dr. A. Robertson Proschowsky, 

 Jardin d'Acclimatation. Received July 19, 1921. Quoted notes by 

 Doctor Proschowsky. 



53910. Centaueea canariensis Willd. Asteracese. 



"A rather large bush which is very drought resistant. AVhen covered 

 with, its large purple flowers it is rather ornamental." 



Native to the island of Teneriffe, Canary Islands. 



53911. Centaurea ragusina L. Asteracese. 



"An exceedingly ornamental bushy Dalmatian plant with yellow flower 

 heads and white silky-tomentose foliage, sometimes nearly 6J feet 

 across, which grows on almost perpendicular rocks and on walls of 

 masonry where it is planted or naturalized, since it is not wild here." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 48027. 



