OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1914. 27 



39423 to 39442— Continued. (Quoted notes by Mr. F. N. Meyer.) 



39425. Ricinus communis L. Euphorbiaceae. Castor bean. 

 "(No. 2120a. Southwest Shansi, China; August 4 to 14. 1914.) Var. 



incrmis. A variety of castor beau having spineless burs. Occurs sporad- 

 ically in fields among the ordinary sort. Of value to students of muta- 

 tion and variation in plants, and possibly of commercial value also as 

 producing less waste material than the common varieties." 



39426. Medicago sativa L. Fabacea?. Alfalfa. 

 "(No. 2121a. Mountains between Hotien, near Linhsien, Honan, and 



Luanfu, Shansi, China. July 7 to 12, 1914.) A wild alfalfa, found every- 

 where between grasses, bowlders, rocks, and pebbles, on banks, cliffs, etc. ; 

 of low spreading growth, foliage small, flowers of blue color, large indi- 

 vidually, but racemes small. Branches not erect except when having some 

 support. Thrives best, apparently, at altitudes between 2,000 to 4.000 feet 

 above sea level. Of value possibly as a pasture plant in the inter- 

 mountain sections of the United States. This alfalfa may be one of the 

 original forms in which this important forage plant occurs on the globe, 

 and the erect-growing varieties now so extensively cultivated might have 

 been derived from one of these prostrate forms." 



39427. Incarvillea sinensis Lamarck. Bignoniaceae. 



"(No. 2122a. Near Wuwang on the Hwang River, Shansi, China. 

 August 11, 1914.) Var. floreflava. A variety of this biennial, having 

 large, pale-yellow flowers, instead of rosy ones. Of value as an orna- 

 mental for the hardy border. Of special interest to botanic gardens." 



39428. Amygdalus sp. Aruygdalacesp. Peach. 

 "(No. 2123a. Sianfu, Shensi, China. August 21 to 26, 1914.) Stones 



of the real wild peach, growing in the mountains one day's journey 

 south of Sianfu. The fruits are small, hard, and sourish, but there is 

 considerable variation in them as regards size and taste. They are 

 apparently all freestones, and while some have red flesh near the stone, 

 others are white throughout. The Chinese eat these fruits out of hand, 

 but they do not appeal to the white races, although they might be 

 utilized when preserved, as they possess the real peach flavor. Local 

 name Yiny t'ao, meaning ' cherry peach.' " 



39429 and 39430. Prunus armeniaca L. Ainygdalaceae. Apricot. 



39429. "(No. 2124a. Peking, China, June 25, 1914.) A large 

 apricot of soft yellow color and of mango shape, which is a very 

 unusual form among apricots. Said to come from the vicinity of 

 Paotingfu, Chihli Province." 



39430. "(No. 2125a. Peking, China. June 27, 1914.) An apricot 

 with fruits as large as small apples; of whitish yellow color with 

 some blush on one side. Of fresh and sweet taste. Said to come 

 from the vicinity of Paotingfu." 



39431. Xanthoceras sorbifolia Bunge. Sapindaceae. 



"(No. 2126a. Chaoyu, Shansi, China. July 22, 1914.) A shrub, 

 occasionally growing into a small-sized tree, found in loess cliffs. The 

 shiny pinnate foliage reminds one of an ash, but the drooping racemes 

 of white flowers, with yellow stamens, produced in great masses in 

 early summer, give the shrub quite a distinct appearance. The Chinese 

 eat the kernels of the fruit and call the plant Mu kua hua, meaning 



