JANTTABY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1914. 23 



37006 to 37008. 



From Chita, Transbaikalia, Siberia. Purchased from Mr. M. M. Timo- 

 gowitsch by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer for the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture. Received January 20, 1914. 



37006. Prunus sibieica L. Apricot. 

 Baikal apricot. 



37007. Betuxa fbuticosa Pallas. Birch. 

 This shrub, known to the Tungus as Buhyka or Marak, abounds in the 



swamps and stony mountains in the subalpine region of Siberia, espe- 

 cially around Lake Baikal, everywhere associated with Rhododendron 

 dauricum L. and always resembling it. Steller observed this same 

 shrub beyond the Lena River, and it is frequent in Kamchatka. This 

 species is very similar to Betula humilis of Europe, but the leaves are 

 more tapered toward the apex, have usually five or six pairs of veins, 

 and the toothing is finer, sharper, and more regular ; the wings of the 

 seed are also comparatively broader than in humilis. It is a native of 

 northeastern Europe and Siberia, inhabiting boggy places. (Adapted 

 from Pallas, Flora Rossica; Schneider, Laubholzkunde ; and W. J. Bean, 

 Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 1, p. 257.) 



37008. Maltjs baccata (L.) Moench. Siberian crab apple. 

 (Pyrus baccata L.) 



" Genuine var. vera. Transbaikal apple." 



"A tree 20 to 40 feet high, forming a rounded, wide-spreading head of 

 branches, the lower ones arching or pendulous at the extremities ; trunk 

 1 to 2 feet in diameter. Leaves 1J to 3J inches long, about half as wide ; 

 oval or ovate, rounded or tapering at the base, shallowly and bluntly 

 toothed ; smooth above, and either smooth or downy beneath ; stalks 

 slender, 1 to 2 inches long. Flowers white, produced during April in 

 umbels ; each flower 1$ inches across and borne on a slender stalk 1 to 

 1J inches long. Fruit three-quarters to seven-eighths of an inoh thick, 

 globular, bright red, hollowed at the insertion of the stalk, and with a 

 round scar, but no calyx teeth at the top. 



" Widely spread in nature, this species reaches from Lake Baikal, in 

 Siberia, eastward to Manchuria and North China, and the same or a 

 similar tree is found in the Himalayas. Introduced to Kew in 1784. 

 It varies considerably in the downiness of the various parts. Some of 

 the trees in the Kew collection have smoorh young shoots, leaves, calyx 

 tube, and flower stalks; others have all these parts downy. The lobes 

 of the calyx appear to be invariably silky hairy inside. As a tree for 

 gardens, the Siberian crab stands in the first rank. It is pretty in 

 April when laden with its abundant white flowers, but its great value 

 and charm are most apparent in autumn, when its plentiful crop of 

 cherrylike crabs turns a brilliant red. They remain long on the leafless 

 branches, and I have seen them lighting up the garden on fine days as 

 late as February. This tree is closely allied to Pyrus pruni folia, but the 

 fruit of the latter is more elongated, not indented at the base, and 

 nearly always crowned with the calyx teeth. The late Dr. Regel, about 

 30 years ago, sent seeds to Kew of about a dozen varieties with names, 

 but when the trees flowered and bore fruit they proved indistinguishable 

 The fruit, of Pyrus baccata, although harsh when eaten raw, makes a 

 very excellent jelly." (IF. ./. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the 

 British Isles, vol. 2, p. 278-279.) 



