Inventory 40, Seeds and Plants Imported. 



Plate IV. 



An Old Soap-Bean Tree (Gleditsia sinensis Lam.) near Tientangyi, Shensi, 

 China. (See S. P. I. No. 38800.) 



A large old tree found in a dry place. The dense bead of branches is characteristic of this species of 

 honey locust as seen on the Sianfu plain. It is a long-lived beautiful shade tree with long stout 

 spines and well-rounded head of dense branches and foliage. It is remarkably resistant to drought 

 and a valuable ornamental park and shade tree for the semiarid sections of the United States. 

 The large thick pods, which contain considerable quantities of saponin, are sliced and used as a 

 substitute for soap. No. 38800 is a large-podded variety of this interesting tree. (Photographed 

 by Frank N. Meyer, January 23, 1915; P12160FS.) 



