68 SEEDS Ai^D PLANTS IMPOETED. 



44406. Dahlia sp. Asteracese, Tree dahlia. 



From Guatemala. Cuttings collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural 

 Explorer for the Department of Agriculture. Numbered March, 1917. 



"(No. 106. From Tactic, Alta Vera Paz.) A double white variety of the 

 common tree dahlia. The plant was not seen in bloom, and there is a possi- 

 bility that it may not be true to name, but the Indian from whom it was ob- 

 tained assured me that it was the double white form and not the common single 

 pink. The flowers of the double white variety (which seems to be the most 

 beautiful form of all) are used extensively by the Indians of Tactic for decorat- 

 ing the images of the saints. This seems to me to be a very promising plant 

 for cultivation in California. It is likely that this is a cultivated form of 

 Dahlia maxoni Safford." (Popenoe.) 



44407 to 44417. 



From Buenos Aires, Argentina. Seeds presented by the Jardin Botanico. 

 Received March 10, 1917. 



44407. Aextoxicon punctatum Ruiz and Pav. Euphorbiacese. 



A Chilean tree, sometimes reaching a height of 40 feet, with beautiful 

 dark-green foliage. It thrives in both the dry and moist portions of 

 Chile. (Adapted from note of W. F. Wight, May 7, 1913.) 



See also S. P. I. No. 36123 for further description. 



44408. Chenopodixjm sp. Chenopodiacefe. 



A very small seeded variety, apparently allied to Chenopodium am- 

 brosioides. 



44409. Gevuina avellana Molina. Proteacese. Avellano, 

 A Chilean evergreen tree, reaching a height of 12 meters. Its large, 



dark-green, glossy pinnate leaves and axillary racemes of white flowers 

 make a very pleasing combination during the winter. The pleasant- 

 flavored nuts resemble the hazelnut in taste and are eaten raw or 

 cooked. The wood is suited for general carpentry and for cabinetwork, 

 the medullary rays giving it a pleasing appearance. (Adapted from 

 Castillo and Dey, La Jeografia Botanica del Rio Valdivia, p. 39, and from 

 Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 3, p. 1335.) 



44410. Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) Berg. Myrtacese. Jaboticaba. 

 " One of the best indigenous fruits of Brazil, and at the same time one 



of the most curious and interesting, due to its habit of producing its 

 fruits directly upon the trunk and larger branches (cauliflory). Sev- 

 eral species are grown under the name of jaboticaha, and they are still 

 somewhat confused botanically, but it appeal's that most of the plants 

 common in cultivation belong either to Myrciaria, cauliflora or M. 

 jaboticaba, fruits of the latter being distinguishable from those of the 

 former by the presence of a slender stem. 



" The jaboticaba occurs in southern Brazil, both wild and cultivated. 

 It is a very handsome tree, reaching a height of 35 or 40 feet, with a 

 dense dome-shaped crown. The leaves are small, lanceolate, light green 

 in color, and the flowers are white, with four petals and a conspicuous 

 tuft of stamens. The fruits are produced in the greatest abundance 

 and are the size of large grapes, with a tough, leathery skin, white, 

 juicy pulp of rather acid, aromatic flavor, and two to four flattened oval 



