OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1916. 21 



43435 to 43440— Continued. 



and bland, like that of a very good avocado, but with a faint suggestion 

 of sweetness. The outer seed coat is developed into a thick husk which 

 may practically be considered an endocarp. Within lies the seed, which 

 is long and pointed, with the inner seed coat, thin and membranous, 

 surrounding the cotyledons closely. While the outer seed coat is ex- 

 tended clear to the base of the fruit, the inner does not always reach 

 the apices of the cotyledons. The embryo lies immediately at the base 

 of the cotyledons, while the avocado has the embryo located some dis- 

 tance above this point. From a practical standpoint the a^iay can nqt 

 be considered of great value, inasmuch as the flesh is scanty in quantity. 

 If the flesh were more abundant its excellent flavor would make the 

 fruit of great value. The fruit falls to the ground while still hard and 

 requires two or three days to soften and be in condition for eating. 

 The seeds germinate on the ground beneath the trees, and the young 

 plants start oft lustily. The larva of some insect attacks the fallen 

 fruits and tunnels through the seeds. Very few fruits found on the 

 ground had not been attacked in this manner. The remarkable simi- 

 larity of this species to the cultivated avocado and the fact that its 

 fruit is edible and is used by the natives make it a subject of particular 

 interest in connection with the study of the cultivated avocados. It is 

 to be hoped that specimens can be reared and fruited in the United 

 States. The region where the tree is found lies at an elevation of about 

 1,200 feet and is quite moist. On this account it seems doubtful whether 

 the anay will succeed in California. It might be tried in the most pro- 

 tected localities. In southern Florida its chances of success seem good." 



For an illustration of the anay, see Plate III. 

 43433. Htjfkxandia anay Blake. Lauracese. Anay. 



"(No. 34. Mazatenango, Guatemala. ) Anay. Young seedlings collected 

 under a large tree in the finca ' El Compromiso,' where the fruit had 

 fallen. See 34a [S. P. I. No. 43432] for a description of this plant." 

 43434 to 43436. Nephrolepis spp. Polypodiacese. Fern. 



43434. "(No. 36. Mazatenango, Guatemala, September 23, 1916.) 

 Cola de quetzal (quetzal's tail). Plants of a fern very common 

 on large forest trees of this region (1,200 feet elevation). It 

 grows usually at some height above the ground. The fronds hang 

 down to a length of 6 feet or more." 



43435. "(No. 37. Mazatenango, Guatemala, September 23, 1916.) 

 Palmito. Plants of a coarse fern with stout rootstocks, which 

 grows in this region (1,200 feet elevation) on the trunks of large 

 forest trees. The pinnae are long and rather coarse. Commonly 

 grows closer to the ground than the Cola de quetzal (No. 36), being 

 found within 8 to 10 feet." 



43436. "(No. 38. Mazatenango, Guatemala, September 23, 1916.) 

 Plants of a small fern found clinging to the trunks of large forest 

 trees, usually close to the ground and in very moist situations." 



43437. Passiflora ligularis Juss. Passifloracese. Sweet granadilla. 

 "(No. 43a. Guatemala, Guatemala, October 7, 1916.) Street grana- 

 dilla. Seeds of a species of Passiflora cultivated in the highlands of 

 Guatemala, up to elevations of 6,000 feet or more. The fruit is the size 

 of a hen's egg, orange yellow in color when fully ripe, with a thick, brittle 



