513 



BOTANICAL NOTES. 



By Dr. Geo. Vasey. . 



The PERsnoiON. — Colonel Barr has presented to this Department 

 specimens of a variety of persimmon, grown on the grounds of the Re- 

 form-School near this city, which possesses such qualities as entitle it 

 to attention. The tree is young, nine or ten feet high, and not over IJ 

 inches in diameter. Ifc grows under an oak tree. There is a group of 

 seven or eight trees in the vicinity, but only this one bears the peculiar 

 fruit. This is somewhat acorn-shaped, and larger than the common 

 persimmon fruit. It does not seem to possess much astringency, and 

 its flavor is excellent. Some of our nurserymen would do well to make 

 a specialty of the improvement of the persimmon, and here is one of 

 nature's hints in that direction. The fruit referred to matures in No- 

 vember. One tree of the group bears fruit which matures in August. 

 It is of medium size, and very sweet. 



OxYTROPis Lai^iberti, (said to be poisonous to cattle.) Recently 

 some specimens of a plant sent from Colorado by Dr. P. Moffatt, assist- 

 ant surgeon, U. S. A., to the office of the Surgeon-General, were sub- 

 mitted to this Department for name, accompanied by the following 

 extract from the report of Dr. Moflfatt: 



Cattle-men inform me that a weed grows among the grass, particularly in damp 

 ground, which is poisonous to horned cattle and horses, and destroys many of them. 

 From the manner in which they describe its effects upon the animals it must be of the 

 nature of a narcotic, and they assure me that cattle, after having eaten it, may linger 

 many months or for a year or two, but invariably die at last from the effects of it. 

 The animal does not lose in flesh apparently, but totters on its limbs and becomes 

 crazy. While in this condition a cow will lose her calf and never find it again, and 

 will not recognize it if presented to her. The sight becomes affected so that the ani- 

 mal has no knowledge of distance, but will make an effort to step or jump over a 

 stream or an obstacle while at a distance off, but will plunge into it or walk up 

 against it upon arriving at it. The plant was pointed out to me, and seems to be 

 related to the Lupin. 



The plant submitted to us as the one in question was the Oxytropis 

 Lambert^ a plant of the pea-family, nearly related to Astragalus, and 

 also to the Lupin. It grows in considerable abundance upon the ele- 

 vated plains near the mountains, and extends up into the mountains to 

 the elevation of 7,000 or 8,000 feet. It is perennial and grows in small 

 clumps, the leaves being all at the base, and sending up a few erect 

 flower-stalks, seldom over a foot high, which have a spike-like raceme 

 of rather showy flowers, varying in color from cream to purple. These 

 are succeeded by short, stiff, pointed pods, which contain a number of 

 small, clover-like seeds. The effects ascribed to this plant are quite 

 similar to those produced by several species of Astragalus in California, 

 as mentioned in several of the monthly reports of this Department. 

 (See Monthly Report, October, 1873.) Careful observations should be 

 made by residents of the region where this plant grows to ascertain if 

 it produces the effects ascribed to it. 



A Valuable Grass for the South at^d South^^t:st. — Specimens 

 of a grass have been sent to us from Texas by Mr. Pryor Lee, concern- 

 ing which he makes the following remarks : 



1. General experience has not fully tested the qualities of this grass, but some charac- 

 teristics are recognized by manj' practical observers in Southwestern Texas. 



2. In this region this grass, in the condition of well-cured hay, is regarded as more 

 nutritious than any other grass. 



