34 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



47570 to 47575— Continued. 



When about 18 months old the leaves become aborted and the leafstalks 



expand, become leaflike, and take on all the functions of leaves. Some 



of the acacias do this; but this, I believe, is the only pine with this 



habit." 



47574 and 47575. Vebonica spp. Scrophulariacese. 



" The veronicas in New Zealand are the most numerous of special 

 plants. We have about 550 species of plants, and of these the veronicas 

 number over 100. In the northern hemisphere they are merely herbs; 

 some species here attain the dignity of trees, being 30 feet high and 

 as thick as a man's body ; most of them are shrubs." 



47574. "Vebonica sp. 



" This one is a large-leaved shrub with purple flowers." 



47575. Veronica sp. 



" This species is a smaller leaved shrub with light-blue flowers." 



47576. Meibomia leiocarpa (Spreng.) Kuntze. Fabacese. 

 {Desmodium leiocarpum Don.) 



From Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba. Cuttings presented by Dr. M. Calvino, 

 director, Agricultural Experiment Station. Received June 14, 1919. 



" This plant was introduced by me from Brazil and has shown itself to be 

 a very good legume fodder for Cuba. I am now experimenting to see if it can 

 be propagated by cuttings." {Calvino.) 



47577. Crocus sativus L. Iridaceae. Saffron. 

 From Valencia, Spain. Bulbs presented by Mr. J. R. Putnam, American 



consul. Received June 16, 1919. 



A light-purple autumn-flowering crocus native to southern Europe. Commer- 

 cial saffron consists of the deep orange-colored stigmas of the flowers gathered 

 with part of the style and carefully dried. A grain of good saffron contains 

 the stigmas and styles of 9 flowers, and over 4,000 flowers are required to yield 

 an ounce of saffron. The principal use is to furnish an orange-red dye. 

 (Adapted from Lindley, Treasury of Botany, vol. 1, p. SJ/O.) 



47578 and 47579. 



From Miami, Fla. Plants grown at the Plant-Introduction Field Station 

 at Miami. Numbered for convenience in recording distribution in 

 June, 1919. 



47578. JuBAEA CHiLENSis (MoHua) Baill. Phoenicacese. Palm. 



(J. spectabilis H, B. K.) 

 "This is the palm from which the palm honey of Chile is made. This 

 sirup is the most delicious I have ever tasted. It is superior, in my 

 estimation, to maple sirup, being milder and not cloying the palate as 

 the latter does. In 40 years the trees will be ready to tap for the sap 

 from which this sirup is made. It is a very ornamental palm but a 

 slow grower. It thrives on very dry, poor soils, and requires very little 

 water. Hitherto palms have been felled, but they can be tapped, I am 

 assured, just as maple trees are tapped." (David Fairchild.) 



