JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1918. 39 



45905 to 45913— Continued. 



3 feet in diameter on petioles 18 inches long. The leaf bases are densely 

 covered with woolly scurf, which splits into many strong fibers ; and the 

 1^' branch inflorescence, about 2 feet long, is also densely covered with white 



woolly scurf. The smooth fruit, three-fourths of an inch long by five- 

 eighths of an inch in diameter, is not edible." (C. B. Doyle.) 



45907. AcHKAs ZAPOTA L. Sapotaceae. Sapodilla. 

 (A. sapota L.) 



" From Curasao, Dutch West Indies. A choice variety." 

 A small, symmetrical tree, 25 to 30 feet high, with leathery, dark-green, 

 shiny leaves and round or oblong fruit which resemble in outward 

 appearance a smooth-skinned brown potato. It is a native of tropical 

 America, although cultivated in the Asiatic Tropics as well. When 

 thoroughly ripe, the fruit is fine for eating, having a very thin skin 

 inclosing a pale-brown, juicy pulp of delicious flavor. It is best propa- 

 gated by cuttings, although it may be raised from seeds. (Adapted from 

 Macmillan, Handbook of Tropical Gardening and Planting, p. 133.) 



See S. P. I. No. 44866 for previous introduction. 



45908. Annona mueicata L. Annonacese. Soursop. 



" From Curagao, Dutch West Indies." 



"A small, evergreen, tropical American tree, about the size of a peach 

 tree, with leathery, ill-smelling, glossy leaves ; large flowers with fleshy 

 exterior petals; and very large, fleshy, green fruits with white, juicy, 

 pleasantly subacid pulp. It is commonly cultivated in the Tropics of the 

 Old World. A fine drink is made from the juice and excellent jelly and 

 preserves from the pulp. It is easily propagated from seeds or by bud- 

 ding." (W. E. Safford.) 



See S. P. I. No. 44453 for previous introduction. 



45909. Batjhinia sp. Cfesalpiniacefe. 



" From Trinidad, British West Indies. Ornamental." 



45910. Ceecidium viride (Karst.) Taub. Cfesalpiniace*. 



" Indjoe fino or Llaro. From La Vela de Coro, Venezuela. Tree used 

 as an ornamental ; golden flowers. Suitable for planting in dry sections 

 of the southern United States." 



A thorny shrub or small tree, with compound opposite leaves, each 

 divided into one or two pinnae, which in turn are divided into five to 

 eight pairs of oblong or somewhat ovate-oblong short-stalked notched 

 leaflets ; the orange-yellow flowers grow in short, loosely flowered clusters 

 hidden in a tuft of leaves ; the pod is oblong-linear, flatly pressed together, 

 and membranous or somewhat leathery in texture. Cercidium viride is 

 found in the hot steppes of Venezuela and New Granada, where the tree 

 is called guica by the natives. It is also called irea on account of the 

 resinous substance which covers the trunk and branches and which is 

 used as a substitute for pitch. (Adapted from Karstcn, Florae Columhiae, 

 vol. 2, p. 25, pi. 113.) 



45911. Lagekstkoemia speciosa (Muenchh.) Pers. Lythracese. 

 (L. flos-reginae Retz.) 



" From Trinidad, British West Indies. Ornamental." 

 A magnificent flowering plant which in the Tropics affords one of the 

 most brilliant floral displays imaginable and which is made much use of 



