JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1917. 19 



45010. Spondias lutea L. Anacardiacese. Yellow mombin. 



From Bahia, Brazil. Presented by Dr. Leo Zehiitiier. Kwoived July 

 24, 1917. 



"This species is generally considered inferior in quality to the red nionibin 

 (Spondias momhin). Its cultivation is much less extensive, but it occurs 

 abundantly as a wild tree in many tropical resrions. The name hog-plum, which 

 has been applied to it in the West Indies, hus perhaps given it a worse repu- 

 tation than it merits. This name should not, as Cook and Collins point out, 

 cast any reflection on the character of the fruit, inasmuch as it refers to the 

 fact that hogs are extremely fond of it and fatten upon the fruit which falls 

 to the ground from wild trees in the forest. 



" The tree is tall and stately in appearance. Under favorable conditions it 

 may reach 60 feet in height. The leaves are 8 to 12 inches long, composed of 

 7 to 17 ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate-serrulate leaflets, oblique at the base and 

 24 to 4 inches in length. The yellowish white flowers are borne in loose pan- 

 icles 6 to 12 inches long. The fruit is ovoid, commonly an inch in length, 

 bright yellow, with a thin skin and an oblong seed of relatively large sixe. The 

 flesh is yehow, very soft and juicy, and of subacid, rather pungent flavor. 

 Many varieties are scarcely pleasant to the taste ; others are sweet and agree- 

 able. The fruit is usually eaten while fresh. 



"This species is considered to be cosmopolitan in the Tropics.. In Spanish- 

 speaking countries it is called jobo. In Brazil it is known as caid. In the 

 French colonies the names mombin jaune and prune myrobalan are current. 



" Occasional trees are seen in cultivation throughout tropical America. 

 Cook and Collins state that it is planted extensively in Porto Rico. In southern 

 Florida it succeeds, but has never become common. In California no trees of 

 fruiting age are known. The species is rather susceptible to frost ; it is found 

 in the Tropics only at low elevations, and it probably will not withstand tem- 

 peratures much below the freezing point, particularly when young." {Mmson 

 Popenoe.) 



45011 to 45018. 



From Venezuela. Presented by Mr. H. M. Curran. Received July 24, 1917. 



45011. Acacia sp. Mimosacese. 



"(Caracas, 500 to 3,000 feet elevation.) Cuji. A Prosopislike tree 

 with a short trunk; requires more moisture than Prosopis." (Curran.) 



45012. Acacia farnesiana (L.) AVilld. Mimosacese. 

 " Cassie. From Caracas." 



A much-branched shrub 6 to 10 feet high, with compound leaves 

 having linear leaflets and very fragrant deep-yellow flowers in large, 

 globular heads. The cylindrical, indehiscent pods finally become turgid 

 and pulpy. The shrub is probably a native of tropical America, but 

 is now cultivated as an ornamental in many places and is grown in 

 France for perfume. (Adapted from Baileij, Standard Cyclopedia of 

 Horticulture, vol. 1, p. 188.) 



45013. BuMELiA sp. Sapotacese. 



"(La Guaira, June, 1917.) A small tree growing in the forests along 

 the coast, bearing large quantities of edible black fruits." (Curran.) 



45014. FuECRAEA sp. Amaryllidacefe. 



"(No. 1128. Caracas and Puerto Cabello, 4,000 to 5,000 feet. June 27, 

 1917.) The cultivated cocuisa, one of the fiber plants of Venezuela." 

 ( Curran. ) 



