44 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



" Seeds of 'papaw' collected in the Cauca Valley, January, 1919." (Dawe.) 



" These seeds seem to belong to the same species as S. P. I. No. 41339 from 

 Peru, and Nos. 46761 and 46945 from Colombia. They closely resemble those 

 of Carica candamarcensis, but are nearly twice as large." {H. C. Skeels.) 



47226. Amorphophallus konjac Koch. Aracese. 



From Japan. Tubers collected by Mr. Walter T. Swingle, Bui-eau of Plant 

 Industry, United States Department of Agriculture. Received March 13, 

 1919. 



" Tubers of Konyaku. Starch from the tubers is used for food in Japan, 

 During the war the starch prepared from this plant was exported to the United 

 States. It is said to be used in treating airplane wings. In Japan this plant 

 is grown under the shade of orange trees, and as it seems to be important both 

 for food and as industrial starch, I am anxious to see what it will do in this 

 country," {Swingle.) 



47227. Pyrus communis L. Malacese. Pear. 



From Algiers, Algeria, Cuttings presented by Dr. L, Trabut. Received 

 March 13, 1919. 



" Kontoula pear from Achaia, Grafts of an early pear which bears abun- 

 dantly a very sweet little fruit which is quite fragrant. This vigorous tree, 

 which i-apidly attiiins large dimensions, appears interesting to me. 



" In 1914, the Botanical Station received from Greece some grafts of a pear 

 whose fruits are much esteemed in Elis and Achaia because of their earliness ; 

 it bears the name of Kontopodaroussa or Kontoula, attains large dimensions, 

 and is remarkable for its great and regular fruitfulness. 



" Grafted upon Pyrus gharbiana, a species native to Algeria and Morocco, it 

 made good growth in 1915. In June, 1918, the erect branches were covered 

 with fruits, 



" This pear is of small size, with a short peduncle, beautiful yellow, fine, 

 sugary, fragrant flesh, not softening; it ripens in June, and is much superior 

 to other early pears of the same date," (Trabut.) 



47228. SiLYBUM EBURNEUM Coss. and Dur. Asteracese. 



From Algiers, Algeria. Presented by Dr. L. Trabut. Received March 14, 

 1919. 



" Thistle eaten when young by the natives." ( Trabut. ) 



A form of blessed thistle (Silybum marianum), with the stems, nerves of 

 the leaves, and bracts of the involucre an ivory white. It also differs from the 

 typical form in having the spines on the tips of the involucral bracts very- 

 short or wanting. (Adapted from Bulletin de la SociH6 Botanique de France, 

 vol. 2, p. 366.) 



47229. Phoenix dactylifera L. Phcenicaceae. Date palm. 



From Tripoli. Presented by Dr. E. O. Fenzi, director, Stabilimento Orti- 



colo, Tripoli. Received March 15, 1919. 



" Tabuni. Season, end of August to middle December. The commonest kind 



in the oases of Tripoli; fruit small to medium sized, olive shaped, with very 



thin skin, pulp fiberless and more sugary than Bayudi [S. P. I. No. 47302]." 



{Fenzi.) 



