OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1917. 53 



45554 to 45557— Contimied. 



bacterial uodule-bearing leaves occur in many parts of the Tropics and 

 that in India, at least, the value of their leaves for manure has long 

 been recognized, and considering the value of nitrogen-fixiug legumes as 

 fertilizers, the suggestion of Faber that we may have in these tropical 

 trees and shrubs plants of positive agricultural value for the tropical 

 planter is well worthy of consideration. The value of the mulch formed 

 by the leaves of leguminous and other plants is keenly appreciated by 

 the best cultivators, and it may be possible to find suitable small shrubs 

 of Pavetta or other rubiaceous plants which will be worth while 

 growing for their nitrogen-fixing leaf bacteria in the orchards of our semi- 

 tropics or wherever else the climate will permit of their cultivation," 

 (Fairchild.) 



45555. Macrozanonia macrocakpa (Blume) Cogn. Cucurbitacese. 

 (Zanonia macrocai'pa Blume.) 



"This is one of the most remarkable climbing vines or lianas of Java; 

 remarkable because of the size of the fruits, which are as large as 

 medium-sized pumpkins and are borne high in the tops of the forest trees. 

 As the fruits ripen they open at the bottom, and through the triangular 

 opening the great winged .seeds fall out and, like flocks of aeroplanes, sail 

 away in a most spectacular manner. No seed that I know of illustrates 

 more perfectly the principles of the aeroplanje than the seeds of this 

 plant; and if for no other puniose than that of instructing the youth 

 in our schools with regard to the principles of seed dissemination, this 

 interesting plant is worthy of cultivation in our own tropical regions. 

 It should be experimented with in Poi-to Rico and Hawaii ; and it 

 might succeed in the hammocks of Florida." (Fairchild.) 



45556. Mangifeea odorata Griffith. Anacardiacefp. 



"A large tree from Malacca, Java, and probably other islands in that 

 region, where it is known as kiiwini. The leaves are about the size of 

 those of the common mango ; like the lattei-, tlie flower possesses but one 

 or, at most, two fertile stamens. The fruit is described by Griffith as 

 oblong, yellow-green with yellow spots, ill-smelling, and filled with 

 sticky gum ; flesh yellow, fibrous, sweet, not turpentiny ; stone com- 

 pressed, fibrous. This species of Mangifera is little known in horti- 

 culture and seems nowhere to be held in great esteem as a fruit. It is of 

 interest in connection with studies of the cultivated mangos." {Wilson 

 ' Popenoe. ) 



45557. Ceiba pentandra (L.) Gaertn. Bombacacese. Kapok. 

 (Eriodendron anfractuosum DC.) 



A moderate-sized, quick-growing, upright thornless tree, indigenous 

 to tropical Asia and Africa. A striking peculiarity is the manner in 

 which the branches stretch out horizontally in whorls at right angles 

 to the stem. Around the base of the tree are produced thin buttresses 

 or flanges which sometimes extend for 30 feet or more from the base. 

 The tree is deciduous In the dry season. January to April, the greenish 

 white flowers being produced In clusters shortly after the leaves have 

 dropped ; the fruit pods which follow are ripe about three months later. 

 The latter contain a quantity of silky cotton (kapok), and when ripe 

 burst open and disperse their contents. The pods should therefore be 

 collected before they are quite dry and then dried in the sun. Kapok 



