JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1921. 49 



The youriK shoots are planted about 20 feet apart, and in the course of 10 

 years the plant occupies an area of from 10 to 15 square feet. The plants 

 bear fruit in the third or fourth year and will yield from 6 to 8 pounds of 

 seeds, abcnt the size and color of a ^rain of com, annually for 35 to AO years. 

 Plants raised from seeil do not bear fruit until the fifth year and live but a 

 few years. (Adapted from Bulletin of the Pan American Union, vol. 51, 

 p. 26S.) 



54306. Clusia grandiflora Splitf?. Cliisiacese. 



From Cambridge, En^laud. Cuttinjrs presented by F. G. Preston, superin- 

 tendent, Botanc Garden. Kecoived September 30, 1921. 



A very beautiful plant up to 11 feet high with handsome larjre white ro.se- 

 tintetl flowers, each from 7 to 8 inches in diameter. The flowers are fleshy 

 with a delicate white frin.^e around the center of a deep-yellov.-, discoid, 

 gummy mass of staminodes. Tliree flowers are usually borne at the end of 

 a shoot, the central one opening flrst and b.iding the tv>o si<le buds which open 

 later. This native of Guiana has large handsouie leathery leaves, up to 18 

 inches long and over 7 inches wide; they are borne in clusters towards the 

 end of the twigs. Tlie plant is not in any way susceptible to insect pests. 

 (Adapted from Gardeners' Chrmiicle, Sd scr., vol. 67, p. 315.) 



54307 and 54308. 



From Honolulu, Hawaii. Plants collected by J. F. Rock. Agricultural Ex- 

 plorer of the Department of Agriculture. Received August 26, 1921. 



54307. CoT.A NiTiDA (Vent.) Schott and Endl. Sterculiacea. 

 {Sterculia nitida Vent.) 



A tree 20 to 30 feet high, native to Upper Guinea, Africa, closely re- 

 lated to the common cola nut, from which it differs in the broader, 

 shorter stalked leaves, and flowers nearly double the size. These trees 

 furnish the cola nuts so much esteemed by the natives for their bitter 

 flavor, and which are said to enhance the taste of whatever is eaten 

 with them. The numerous seeds are in leathery or woody pods. (Adapted 

 from Oliver, Flora of Tropical Africa, vol. 1, p. 221.) 



54308. QuERcus .tavanica (Blume) Drake. Fagacere. 

 {Castanopsis javanica A. DC.) 



A large evergreen tree with very leathery leaves which are shining 

 above, more or less rufous pubescent beneath, and 3 to 10 inches long. 

 The globose tomentose involucres, up to 2 inches in diameter with spines 

 sometimes two-thirds of an inch long, inclose 1 to 4 nuts. Native to 

 Lower Bui-ma and the Malay Peninsula. (Adapted from Hooker, Flora 

 of British India-, vol. 5, p. 620.) 



54309. DioscoREA esctjlenta (Lour.) Burkill. Dioscoreacese. 



Lesser yam. 



From Suva. Fi.ii Islands. Tubers presented by C. H. Knowles, Director 

 of Agriculture. Received September 17, 1921. 



This small yam, the kawaU is certainly worth the attention of anyone who 

 has facilities for cultivating a small area of food plants. Being indigenous to 

 Fiji, the natives have long recognized its value as a food, and it is odtivated 

 in most if not all of the Fiji Islands. It is cultivated in parts of India and 

 Burma. In the latter it is said to be found wild. 



The stem of this creeper is round and full of prickles. It is propagated by 

 planting the small tubers or roots, which, like the old ones, are oblong, of a 

 brownish color outside and a pure white within. When cooked, the skin falls 

 off like the bark of a birch tree. The root is very farinaceous, and when well 

 cooked looks like a fine mealy potato, although of superior whiteness. The 

 taste recalls to mind that of the arracacha of South America. There is a slight 

 degree of sweetness about it which is very agreeable to the palate. 



