JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1916. 73 



42284. Pennisetum glatjcum (L.) K. Br. Poacea?. Pearl millet. 



(Pennisetum typhoideum Rich.) 



From Dakar, Senegal, Africa. Presented by Mr. W. J. Yerby, American 

 consul, through Mr. C. V. Piper, of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Re- 

 ceived March 23, 1916. 

 " This head of pearl millet from Mr. W. J. Yerby measures 26 inches in 

 length, while the average length of pearl millet heads is not more than 8 to 10 

 inches. Although of exceptional size the head is well tilled, and the strain 

 should be a good seed producer if it will mature in our Southern States." 

 (H. N. Vinall.) 



42285. Celtis tala Gillies. Ulmacese. Nettle tree. 



From Buenos Aires, Argentina. Presented by Senor Benito J. Carrasco, 

 director, Botanic Gardens. Received March 21, 1916. 

 " Tala. A large spiny tree, which is suitable for shaping, and especially for 

 street planting. From the cool and temperate regions of Argentina." (Car- 

 rasco. ) 



42286 to 42291. 



From Siena, Italy. Presented by the director, Botanic Garden, University 

 of Siena. Receiyed March 24, 1916. 



42286. Casuarina glauca Sieber. Casuarinaceae. Beef wood. 

 " The Australian oak, or swamp oak, is a tree of moderate size, grow- 

 ing to the height of 60 to 70 feet, usually straight and of rapid growth. 

 The timber is red, beautifully marked, hard and tough, and is used for 

 cabinet work and staves. In periods of drought the foliage is used for 

 feeding stock. When the trees are cut down, the young growth shoots up 

 quickly from the stump. It grows in the coastal districts here, in marshy 

 country, and frequently in land submerged with tidal water. The tim- 

 ber makes the very best fuel, and the tree is the second best that I know 

 of for planting in wet or moist locations. It also makes a good and 

 handsome shade tree." (B. Harrison, in The Everglades Magazine, April, 

 1913.) 



42287. Coknus capitata Wall. Cornaeeae. Bentham's cornel. 

 A small tree or shrub, often low and bushy in cultivation, but reported 



to have the appearance of a small apple tree in Nepal, where it is a na- 

 tive. It bears dense heads of yellowish flowers and attractive deep red- 

 orange fruits about the size of a nectarine. (Adapted from Curtis' s 

 Botanical Magazine, vol. 78, pi. h^hl, 1852.) 



42288. Gleditsia caspica Desf. Caesalpiniacese. Honey locust. 

 A tree 30 to 50 feet high, of beautiful foliage, with strong spines some- 

 times 8 inches long, pod 6 to 7 inches long and about 1 inch broad. 

 Hohenacker [Enum. Talysch, Bull. Soc. Nat. Mosc, 1838:351] states that 

 the tree is abundant toward the village of Astara in Talysch Province, 

 Russia, and is known by the Tartar name lelegachatsch; also that boys 

 eat the sweet pulp of the pods, and that the pods are collected for fatten- 

 ing cattle. Its habitat is Asia, along the southern shore of the Caspian. 



42289. Passiflora fieamento Cay. Passifloracea?. Granadilla. 

 A handsome bluish passion flower resembling Passiflora cocrulca, but 



differing in the brighter colors of the corona and in the corolla exceeding 

 considerably the calyx. The flowers open in the night and close about 

 noon the next day. Native of South America. (Adapted from Curtis'* 

 Botanical Magazine, vol. l t Q, pi. 2023, 1819.) 



