32 SEEDS AXD PLAXTS IMPOETED. 



45358 and 45359. Castaxea alnifolia Xutt. Fagacese. 



From Gainesville, Fla. Plants and scions collected hy Mr. J. E. Morrow 

 at the Agricultural College. Received December 10, 1917. 

 A low shrub, up to 2 feet in height, and forming wide patches by means of 

 the underground stems. The nut is solitary and very small. (Adapted from 

 Small, Flora of the Southeastern States, p. 347.) 

 To be gro^^^l for experimental purposes. 



45358. An erect form. 45359. A prostrate form. 



45360 and 45361. 



From Guatemala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer 

 for the Department of Agriculture. Received November 6, 1917. Quoted 

 notes by Mr. Popenoe. 



45360. PoGOifOPUS sPECiosus (Jacq.) Schum. Rubiacese. 



"(No. 191. Finca Chejel, Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala. October 1-5, 

 1917.) Cuttings of a handsome flowering shrub from the valley of the 

 Rio Polochic, near Tucui'u, Alta Vera Paz. The brilliant scarlet bracts 

 make the plant a striking object among the vegetation along the slopes 

 of the valley, suggesting the poinsettia in color. The plant is bushy in 

 habit, reaching 1.5 feet in height, the leaves broadly lanceolate, acuminate, 

 3 to 5 inches long, with margins entire. The flowers are tubular, about 

 an inch long, produced in corymbs 2 to 4 inches broad. Many of the 

 flowers are subtended by ovate, acute bracts, 1 inch to 1^ inches in length, 

 and of brilliant crimson-scarlet color. This species should be tested as an 

 ornamental shrub in Florida and California." 



45361. ViTis TiLiAEFOLiA Humb. and Bonpl. Vitacese. Grape. 

 (V. caribaea DC.) 



"(No. 182a. Finca Chejel, Baja Vera Paz, Guatemala. October 15, 

 1917.) Seeds of a wild grape from the vicinity of San Cristobal Vera 

 Paz, where it is known simply as uva silvestre (wild grape). Nuiuerous 

 inquiries have failed to bring to light any Indian name for it. 



" This seems to be a different form from that sent in under S. P. I. 

 No. 44060 ; at least, the fruits are much larger and of a different color. 



" The plant makes slender growths, with forked tendrils and cordate 

 subserrate leaves 3 to 4J inches long by 3 to 3i inches broad. The 

 racemes are 2 to 3 inches long, and compact; the berries are thi'ee- 

 eighths of an inch in diameter, dull or i-ather pale purplish maroon in 

 color, with abundant, very acid juice and only one or two seeds. The 

 fruits seem to be little used in the Vera Paz region as they are too sour 

 to eat out of hand, and the Indians are not accustomed to make jelly or 

 other products of similar nature. 



" This grape impresses me as the best which I have seen in the 

 Tropics, and its use in connection with the development of a really choice 

 grape for tropical regions suggests itself. It bears heavily, and the 

 fruits are of fairly good size. They need only to be made sweeter to be 

 of value for table use." 



For an illustration showing a cluster of these grapes, see Plate II. 



