JANUAKY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1918. H 



P 



45721 to 45723— Continued. 



45722. " TlUhuauhtli (black huauhtli). A plant used by the Mexicans 

 as a potherb, possibly the original form from which the pale-seeded 

 xochihuauhtU has been developed by cultivation. Lilie the latter, the 

 immature inflorescence (huaulitzontli, or huauhtli heads) is used for 

 food. The seeds of this variety, discoid in form with the periphery 

 crenated, resemble very closely those of Chenopoditim album and V. 

 paganum. The plant should not be confused with the common forms 

 of Amaranthus, which are used when young by the Mexicans as pot- 

 herbs and which have jet black, very highly polished seeds." 



45723. " TlapalhuauhtU (red huauhtli). A variety of xochihuauhtU 

 having reddish or rose-colored seeds. Like the yellow or pale-brown 

 variety, they are in the form of disks with the periphery distinctly 

 crenulate and differ decidedly from Chenopodium quinoa, of the Peru- 

 vian highlands, to which they are botanically related. The prolific, 

 branching inflorescences are gathered before the seeds are mature 

 and cooked with other ingredients as a vegetable. This plant must not 

 be confused with the sacred michihuauhtli of the Aztecs, which is not 

 a Chenopodium, but a white-seeded Amaranthus." 



45724 to 45726. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Presented by Mr. F. G. Walsingham, Horticultural 

 Section, Gizeh Branch, Ministry of Agriculture. Received January 5, 

 1918. 



45724. Acacia scorpioides (L.) W. F. Wight. Mimosacese. 



(A. araMca Willd.) 



A tree which varies greatly in size in different districts. The leaves 

 are compound, consisting of 10 to 30 pairs of linear-oblong leaflets 5 to 6 

 centimeters long. The flowers are borne in clusters of two to six in each 

 upper axil; the petals are almost entirely united and twice as long as the 

 calyx. The pod is linear, straight, or slightly curved. (Adapted from 

 Muschler, A Manual Flora of Egypt, p. 460.) 



The gum which exudes from the branches of this tree is used as a 

 local application, being soothing to irritated or inflamed mucous mem- 

 branes. It possesses, however, little medicinal value of its own, its 

 principal use being as a vehicle for more powerful remedies. (Adapted 

 from the National Standard Dispensatory, p. 6.) 



45725. Crotalaeia sp. Fabacese. 



These were sent in as blue flowered. They agree closely with C. juncca 

 L., which is yellow flowered. 



45726. DoDONAEA viscosA (L.) Jacq. Sapindacese. 



" A very interesting hedge plant which is beautifully dense and green, 

 responds to the shears perfectly, and when taken in hand early makes 

 a perfectly compact wall clear to the ground. The seedling plants form 

 a rather deep taproot and must be transplanted with some care on that 

 account. This is one of the most perfect tropical hedge plants I have 

 ever seen. The shrub is called tatta by the natives." {Prof. S. C. 

 Mason. ) 



