JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1916. 35 



land is not well known, the indications are that where this plant gi'ows, long 

 periods cf drought occur, but rains are abundant and regular at certain seasons 

 of tlie year. AVinter temperatures prol)al)ly do not go below freezing. The 

 plant quickly forms a long taproot, bears when only 4 feet high, has evergreen 

 leaves, which if crushed stain the fingers a magenta color, and grows into a 

 large tree. Prom the investigations which have been made by the Kew 

 Botanic Gardens the indications are that this plant is worthy of a thorough 

 trial in the arid Southwest, at first in the practically frostiess areas, and a 

 special effort is being made to get a large enough quantity of the seeds for an 

 extensive experiment. (See Kew Bulletin, 190S, pij. 36-^, U/l.) 



43261 and 43262. 



From Lawang, Java. Presented by Mr. M. Buysmau. Received September 

 6, 1916. 



43261. Carica papaya L. Papayacese. Papaya. 

 " Seeds of a very large papaya fruit, measuring 40 cm. in length and 



16 cm. in diameter; the natives say there are fruits of 50 cm., but I 

 have never seen them." {Buysman.) 



43262. Meibomia GYRANS (L. f.) Kuntze. Fabacete. Telegraph plant. 

 (Desmodiwn gyrans DC.) 



"Flowers and fructifies here as if it were indigenous." (Buysman.) 

 An erect, short-lived woody plant known as gorachand, native of moist 

 districts, such as northern Bengal. In moist weather, when the sap is 

 active, a jerky motion of the leaflets, like that of a semaphore, is ob- 

 served. It is propagated by seed, which should be sown at the beginning 

 of the rainy season and watered when dry. (Adapted from Woodroio, 

 Gardening in the Tropics, p. 247.) 



" Because of its remarkably sensitive stipules, which gyrate, it has 

 become one of the most valuable of plants for plant physiological investi- 

 gations. Those of Dr. Chundu Bose are among the most instructive. It 

 can be grown out of doors in the summer in Washington." (Fairchild.) 



Mentioned as a fodder ])laut in ilacmillan, Handbook of Tropical 

 Gardening and Planting, p. 591^ 



43263 to 43268. 



From Manila, Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. Adn. Hernandez, 

 Director of Agriculture. Received September 1, 1916. 



43263. Annona cherimola X squamosa. Auuonacese. Atemoya. 



Plants very similar in appearance to the cherimoya ; the fruit is small, 

 about 10 ounces in weight, yellowish green, with very thick, tough skin 

 and white tender flesh, juicy, subacid. It has four to seven seeds, darker 

 colored than those of the cherimoya. (Adapted from Wester, Philippine 

 Agricultural Review, p. 11, Feb., 191Ji.) 



43264. Annona glabra L. Annonacese. Pond-apple. 



" Known as Anona in Mexico ; Cachiman creme in the French West 

 Indies ; pond-apple in Florida and the West Indies. Vigorous tree, up to 

 30 feet in height, the trunk 2 feet in diameter. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 

 deep green above, pale green beneath, glabrous, persistent. Fruit ovate- 

 conical in shape, 2^ inches long ; skin yellowish, sometimes reddish ; seeds 

 conical, few. Pulp of a buttery consistency, very sweet, sometimes cloy- 

 ing. Prof. Foex says this is the commonest fruit on the Mexican market 

 (Mexico City) with the exception of the cherimoya. It is not highly 



