INVENTORY/ 



54426 to 54428. 



From Canton, China. Seeds presented by F. A. McClure, Canton Christian 

 College, through G. Weiduian Groff. Received October 6, 1921. 



54426. Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. Cucurbitaceae. Wax gourd. 

 {B. cerifera Savi.) 



Cheung tsit kwa^ 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 48553. 



54427. Cucurbita moschata Duch. Cucurbitaceae. Squash. 

 Faan kica. 



54428. Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn. Cucurbitaceae. Wax gourd. 

 Paak pei tung kwa. 



54429 and 54430. 



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

 Forest Research Institute and College. Received October 8, 1921. 



54429. Dendeocalamus beandisii Munro. Poaceae. Bamboo. 



A large, evergreen, tufted bamboo with ashy gray to greenish gray 

 stems 60 to 120 feet high, 5 to 8 inches in diameter, slightly branched 

 below, more so above, and having thick walls. This splendid bamboo 

 is often confused with the somewhat similar Dendrocalamus gigantcus, 

 from which it is easily disitinguished by the much smaller spikelets and 

 thicker walled culms. It also closely resembles D. flagellifer. Tlie 

 stems are said to be used for building. (Adapted from Annals of the 

 Royal Botanic Garden, Calcutta, vol. 7, p. 90.) 



54430. Melocanna baccifeka (Roxb.) Kurz. Poaceae. Bamboo, 

 (if. bambusoides Trin.) 



MuU or Moorli. The Terai bamboo. This is an evergreen arborescent 

 bamboo, unarmed and beautifully erect without any bend or inequality 

 of surface. It grows in its native habitat, the Chittagong Hills, to the 

 height of 30 to 50 feet with a circumference of 12 to 13 inches at the 

 base. Melocanna, though ndigenous to Chittagong, is found all over 

 eastern Bengal and Burma ; it delights in a sandy soil, and dry spots 

 suit it admirably. 



The culms sprout from an underground ramifying rhizome at some 

 distance from each other ; and, though thin walled, the bamboo is strong 

 and durable, being largely used for mats and building purposes. It is 

 also observed that white ants and other insects so destructive to the dry 

 bamboo seldom attack Melocanna. This bamboo also yields more or 

 less tabasheer, locally called " choona " (lime), but its most remarkable 

 feature is the large fleshy fruit it bears. This berry is in shape like an 

 inverted pear, 3 to 5 inches long, with a long, curved, tapering point. 

 There is a single oval seed inside the pericarp. The fruit is eaten by 

 the natives. (Adapted from Proceedings and Journal of the Agricultural 

 and Horticultural Society of India, 1913, p. 62.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 21347. 



1 It should be understood that the varietal names of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other 

 plants used in these inventories are those vi'hich the material bore when received by the 

 Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction and, further, that the printing of such 

 names here does not constitute their official publication and adoption in this country. 

 As the different varieties are studied, their identity fully established, their entrance into 

 the American trade forecast, and the use of varietal names for them in American litera- 

 ture becomes necessary, the foreign varietal designations appearing in these inventories 

 will in many cases undoubtedly be changed by the specialists interested in the various 

 groups of plants and the forms of the names brought into harmony with recognized 

 American codes of nomenclature. 



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