JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1914. 37 



37090 to 37095— Continued. 



37095. Bactris caryotaefolia Mart. Palm. 



"(No. 68a. January 6, 1914.) Seeds from palm fruits bought in the 

 market, where they are called sucum (tucumf). The thin pulp surround- 

 ing the seed is edible, rather acid in flavor. Fruits black, about three- 

 quarters of an inch in diameter. For trial in Florida and California." 



37096 to 37099. 



From Joinville, Brazil. Presented by Mr. Jean Knatz. Received February 

 5, 1914. 

 37096 and 37097. Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. 



37096. " Green yama." 37097. " Purple yama." 



37098 and 37099. Xanthosoma sp. 



37098. " Green taya." 37099. Purple taya." 



" The quality of the tubers of these yamas and tayas, as grown at the Plant 

 Introduction Field Station, Brooksville, Fla., in 1914, was very poor, and the 

 varieties will be of interest mainly for botanical study." (,R. A. Young.) 



37100 to 37102. Echium spp. 



From Santa Ursula, Teneriffe, Canary Islands. Presented by Dr. George V. 

 Perez. Received January 26, 1914. 



37100. Echium perezii Sprague. 



An erect plant, 2 meters high, resembling Echium icildpretii in its silky 

 leaves, rose-colored corolla, and long exserted straight filaments, which 

 radiate regularly from its mouth, but differing from that species in the 

 broad lax inflorescence and longer style arms. A recently discovered' 

 species from Punta Liana and Barranco del Agua, Punta, Canary Islands, 

 sent to Kew by Dr. George V. Perez, for whom the species is named. 

 ' (Adapted from Kew Bulletin, 19U h pp. 210 and 267.) 



37101. Echium pintnana Webb and Berth. 

 "A very rare plant indeed." (Perez.) 



For previous introduction and description, see S. P. I. No. 32263. 



37102. Echium wildpretii Pearson. 



For previous introduction and description, see S. P. I. No. 35097. 



37103. Durio zibethinus Murray. Durian. 



From Singapore, Straits Settlements. Presented by Mr. I. Henry Burkhill, 

 Botanic Gardens, Singapore. Received February 6, 1914. 



See S. P. I. No. 28082 for previous introduction. 



" Civet-cat fruit. A very large, handsome, pyramid-shaped tree, native of the 

 Malayan Archipelago, and commonly cultivated in the Straits, Burma, Java, etc., 

 for the sake of its celebrated fruit. The latter is produced on the older 

 branches, varies somewhat from round to oval in shape, and usually weighs 

 from 5 to 7 pounds or more. It is armed with thickly set, formidable prickles 

 about one-half inch long ; when ripe it becomes slightly yellow, and possesses 

 an odor which is intensely offensive to most people, especially on first acquaint- 

 ance with it. The cream-colored pulp surrounding the seed is the edible portion ; 

 this is most highly prized by the Malays and other oriental people, and is 

 also relished by Europeans who acquire a taste for it. Firminger describes it as 



