APEIL 1 TO JUNE 30^ 1917. 63 



44774 to 44776. 



From Guatemala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, agricultural explorer. 

 Received May 24, 1917. Quoted notes by Mr. Popenoe. 



44774. Annona testudinea Safford. AnnonacefE. 



Tortoise-shell custard-apple. 



"(No. 123a. From the city of Guatemala, May 15, 1917.) The tortoise- 

 shell custard-apple, from the town of El Rancho, in eastern Guatemala. 

 It may not have been grown at this place, as it was purchased in the 

 market, but it was probably grown somewhere in the immediate vicinity. 



" This interesting anona belongs to the section Chelonocarpus, or hard- 

 shell custard-apple group, established by Safford (Journal of the Wash- 

 ington Academy of Sciences, vol. 3, no. 4, Feb. 19, 1913). The tree, which 

 has not been seen by me, is described as 12 to 15 meters high, with oblong 

 or oblong-elliptic leaves, acuminate at the apex, and 25 to 35 cm. long. 



" Tlie fruit is more or less globose in form, about 4 inches in length, 

 with a hard shell divided on the surface into polygonal areoles by slightly 

 raised ridges. It strongly resembles the common custard-apple, being 

 dull green and somewhat pruinose. The seeds, also, are quite different 

 from those of the common custard-apple (Annona reticulata) , being con- 

 siderably larger and pointed at tlie apex. The flesh is white, soft, 

 watery, free from the grittiness which is so objectionable in A. reticulata, 

 sweet, and of pleasant flavor. The pulp does not adhere to the seeds in 

 the ripe fruit. 



" This species seems worthy of a trial in southern Florida. It will 

 probably be too tender for cultivation in California, except in the most 

 favored locations, such as Santa Barbara." 



44775. Phyllocaepus septentbionalis Doivn. Smith. Csesalpiniacese. 



"(No. 124a. From El Progreso; sent from the city of Guatemala, May 

 15, 1917.) Flor de mico (monkey flower). A magnificent flowering tree 

 found in sandy loam along watercourses near El Progreso, in eastern 

 Guatemala, at altitudes of 1,500 to 2,000 feet. It is of broad, spreading 

 habit, reaching a height of 40 to 50 feet, and is semideciduous ut the time 

 of flowering, which is in January and February. 



" The leaves are compound, composed of three or four pairs of alter- 

 nate leaflets oblong-elliptic to obovate in form, an inch to 1^ inches in 

 length, rounded to acute at the apex, glabrous, and light green in color. 

 During the flowering season the tree is a mass of crimson-scarlet flowers, 

 which are produced in small clusters and are individually about an inch 

 broad, with a tuft of crimson stamens up to 2 inches long. When in flower 

 the tree may be compared to the royal poinciana, but the flowers are 

 individually much smaller, and the color is deeper than in the poinciana. 

 This tree should be given a trial in southern Florida, where it seems 

 likely to succeed, and also in the most favored sections of southern Cali- 

 fornia. As it grows along the banks .of streams, it will probably demand 

 a good deal of water." 



44776. Persea schiedeana Nees. Lauracese. Coyo. 

 "(No. 125a. From the city of Guatemala, May 15, 1917.) Coyd, 



shucte, or chucte. Seeds from specimens purchased in Zacapa. It is 

 still too early for this fruit to be abundant, but the first of the season 

 are now commencing to appear in the lowlands around Zacapa. The 

 ones from which these seeds were taken were slender pyriform, rather 

 pointed at the apex, over 5 inches long, and about 10 ounces in weight. 



