40 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



45905 to 45912— Continued. 



in the gardens of Indian potentates and otlier places in the East. The 

 flowers appear on axillary peduncles, usually forming panicles at the tips 

 of the branches. The leaves are opposite and entire, oblong, glabrous, 

 and dark green. The flowers are a beautiful shade of rose in the morn- 

 ing, deepening during the day until they become purple in the evening. 

 It is a plant of large growth and is found from Malay to China. (Adapted 

 from Gardeners' Chronicle, 3d ser., vol. 15, p. 77.) 



45912. ToLuiFEEA sp. Fabacese. 



"An ornamental leguminous tree from Trinidad, British West Indies." 



45913. Zea mays L. Poacese. Corn. 



Fiom Peru. I'rocured by Mr. William F. Montavon. United States com- 

 mercial attache at Lima. Received ]\Iarch 1.5, 191S. 

 "No. 15. Ojos de Lechuga, Matibamba."' (Montavon.) 



A peculiarly marked variety, having a dull-yellow ground color overlaid with 

 "brown lines so as to re.semble the grain on a panel of wood. Introduced for the 

 experimental and breeding work of the Oflice of Corn Investigations. 



45914. PiNus ARMANDi Franch. Pinacese. Pine. 



From Formosa. Presented by Mr. G. Takata, director. Department of 

 Productive Industries, Taihoku. Received March 16, 1918. 

 "A pine producing very large cones full of large, edible seeds which are eagerly 

 collected by the priests in the temples ; the cones supply an excellent fuel." 

 (F. N. Meyer.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 38468. 



45915 to 45918. 



From Panama. Pre.sented by Sr. Ramon Arias-Feraud. Received March 

 16, 1918. Quoted notes by Sr. Arias-Feraud. Descriptions adapted from 

 Cook and Collins, Economic Plants of Porto Rico. 



" I am sending you a package containing seeds from dilferent plants grovm 

 on my own plantation." 



45915. ANACARDirsi occidextale L. AnacardiacefP. Cashew. 



'• Red cashew. Trees about 20 feet high, bearing fruits the third year." 

 A handsome quick-growing tree reaching a height of 40 feet, with large, 

 entire, oval leaves ; the wood is close grained, strong, and durable and 

 is used for boat building. The cashew, like the poison ivy, possesses an 

 acrid sul)stance which is strongly irritant to the epidermis and the 

 mucous membranes of human beings. The poisonous material, how- 

 ever, is not spread throughout the plant, but is mostly concentrated in 

 the rather soft shell of the nut, which is borne upon a pear-shaped red 

 or yellow fleshy receptacle 2 to 4 inches long. This receptacle is edible 

 and quite harmless when ripe, having a very agreeable subacid taste In 

 the raw state. It is also very good when cooked. The nut is kidney 

 .shaped or distinctly curved near the middle and contains a single large 

 kernel of quite firm flesli. of fine texture and of delicate, very pleasant 

 nutty flavor. No attempt should be made, however, to eat it in the raw 

 state, on account of the poisonous juice of the shell, which must be 

 driven off by the heat, so that roasting is an absolute necessity. 



