JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1919. 27 



47121. Cardiospermum HALiCACABriM MicROCARPUM Blumo, Sap- 



indaceae. Balloon vine. 



From Zamboanga, Philippine Islands. Presented by Mr. P. J. Wester, 

 agricultural adviser. Received January 27, 1919. 

 "An annual climbing vine, native of Zaiuboanga, with balooulike seed pods 

 that, together with the delicate foliage, make the plant an attractive orna- 

 mental." ( Wester. ) 



47122. RuBus GLAUCus Benth. Andes berry. 



From Palmira, Colombia. Presented by Charles J. Eder. Received Feb- 

 ruary 6, 1919. 



" Seeds from Palmira, Valle, Republic of Colombia ; altitude 6,000 feet ; aver- 

 age temperature 65° F." (Eder.) 



Mora de Castilla. This berry, which appears to grow wild, attains a size and 

 shape comparable to that of our best cultivated varieties, and to my mind has 

 a better flavor than any of them. (Adapted from notes by Dr. F. M. Chapman.) 



Cuttings of this berry previously received Avere given S. P. I. No. 4G800. 



47123. Arthrostylidium capillifolium Griseb. Poacese. 



Climbing bamboo. 



From New Providence, Bahama Islands. Plants presented by Father C. N. 

 Field and Mr. W. F. Doty, American consul, Nassau. Received February 

 11, 1919. 



"A climbing bamboo, 15 meters or more in height, repeatedly branching, 

 swinging down from the trees in great curtains or festooning lower growth, 

 with the linear or filiform blades crowded on short sterile branchlets, these ar- 

 ranged in dense whorls like great pompons at the nodes." {Contributions from 

 the U. S. National Herbarium, vol. 18, p. 397.) 



47124. Elaeis guineensis Jacq. Phcenicacese. Oil palm. 



From Buitenzorg, Java. Presented by the director, Botanic Gardens. 

 Received February 12, 1919. 



This palm is very important economically. The fruit is used liy the natives 

 for food ; an intoxicating drink is made from the juice of the stem ; the leaf 

 stalks and leaves are used for thatching the native houses ; and the fleshy outer 

 layer and the kernels of the fruit each yield a commercial oil — that from the 

 fleshy part being the ordinary palm oil used in the manufacture of soap and 

 candles and that from the kernels being the white or nut oil used for making 

 margarine or artificial butter. It is a native of west tropical Africa and 

 occurs over immense areas both wild and in cultivation. (Adapted from Mac- 

 millan. Handbook of Tropical Gardening and Flanting, p. 538.) 



Dorsett, Shamel, and Popenoe, in Department of Agriculture Bulletin No. 

 445, mention the uses of this tree in Brazil, and in regard to the oil from 

 the pulp say : " Dende oil is an important food product, entering into the 

 preparation of a number of dishes, some of which, such as vatapd, are con- 

 sidered peculiar to the region. While utilized by all classes of people, its 

 greatest popularity is among the negroes, long familiarity having made dend6 

 oil almost as indispensable to them as olive oil is to the Spaniard." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 45766. 



