32 SEEDS AISTD PLANTS IMPOETED. 



47148. Lactuca sativa L. Cichoriacese. Lettuce. 



From Khartum, North Africa. Presented by Mr. R. E. Massey, Govern- 

 ment botanist, Central Research Farm, Sudan Government. Received 

 February 20, 1919. 



"A sample of lettuce seed which may interest you." (Massey.) 



47149 to 47153. 



From Richmond, Victoria, Australia. Presented by Mr. F. H. Baker. 

 Received February 20, 1919. 



47149. Acacia implexa Beuth. Mimosacese. 



A tall Australian tree, 50 feet high, with light-green, sickle-shaped, 

 lanceolate leaves 4 to 7 inches long, cream-colored flowers in short 

 racemes, and light-brown pods 4 to 5 inches long, curved like an interro- 

 gation mark. The dark-brown, hard, close-grained wood is much used 

 for turnery and for all purposes which call for tenacity and strength. 

 (Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 1, p. 

 186, and from Maiden, Useful Native Plants of Australia, p. 357.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 44321. 



47150. Callistemon bigidus R. Br. Myrtaceae. 



" Bottle-brush plant ; grows to a height of 4 to 6 feet." (Baker.) 



A low shrub with linear, rigid leaves 2 to 5 inches long. The flowers 

 are borne in dense spikes and the protruding stamens have brilliant 

 crimson filaments an inch long, tipped with darker colored anthers. 

 (Adapted from Bentham, Flora Austr alien sis, vol. 3, p. 121.) 



47151. Callitbis cupbessiformis Vent. Pinaceae. 



" Grows in sand ridges where there is a small rainfall. It is a fine 

 tree." (Baker.) 



" This pine is described by Col. W. V. Legge in a report on ' The Tas- 

 manian Cypress Pine,' published [in 1911]. According to this paper, the 

 tree is confined mainly to the coast, where it does well on poor soils. It 

 seems to have a slow growth, but in time reaches a height of 100 feet 

 and a diameter of about 2A feet. In spite of the fact that it is chiefly a 

 warm-climate tree, it also thrives in some of the colder parts of Tas- 

 mania where there is considerable frost. It has a plain whitish wood, 

 without figure, and with little difference in color between the sapwood 

 and the heartwood. Its grain is hard and close, and the wood is ex- 

 ceedingly durable. It is largely used for piles, telegraph poles, and in 

 general construction work. It not infrequently grows In mixture with 

 eucalypts, and when grown in the forest under moderate light conditions 

 its form is that of a sharp cone which is tall in proportion both to the 

 diameter and to the spread of the lateral branches. There are all grada- 

 tions from this form to the spreading, bushy tree found in the open. 



"Since Florida is apparently the region in the United States best 

 adapted to this species, I would advise growing some at Miami for ex- 

 perimental planting in the Florida National Forest. Although the tree 

 is widely used for a great variety of purposes in Tasmania, I doubt if 

 it would prove superior to our own conifers and believe tliat the chief 

 advantage in introducing it into Florida would probably be to furnish a 

 comparatively soft, light wood for local u.se." (Raphael Zon.) 



