172 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1891. 



No. 24533: Distribution charts of tree species from Teuth Census. 



No. 24532: Photo-microijraphs showing cross, tangential, anfl radial cnts of various 

 timbers. 



No. 24531: Photographs of trees, accompauyiug distribution charts and photo- 

 micrographs. 



No. 24700: Cypress roots and knees, showing longitudinal and cross sections. 



No. 24765 : Corrugated ap^ile wood, a small section of unusual beauty. 



No. 25040: Vulcanized wood; treated by the Vulcanizing (]>reservative) jirocess. 



Of these, a few of special interest are described on the labels as fol- 

 lows : 



Circulation of Sap. — Section of Girdled Pine (Pinus glabra, Walt.). — This tree 

 was completely girdled in its eighth year, and was injured by hre in its tenth year, 

 yet lived and continued to deposit wood above the girdle, but none below, until cut, 

 twenty-two years after the girdling. Grift of I. Gregor. (Jacksonville, Fla., June, 



1885. 23897.) 



Double Cocoanut Palm, "CocoDeMer" {Lodoicea seychellarum, liahil). — Fruit 

 and wood. Seychelles Islands, Indian Ocean. 24008. Gift of W. L. Abbott. 



Occurs only on two small Islands of the Seychelles group in the Indian Ocean. 



The trees attain a height of 100 feet, having leaves 20 feet long, 12 feet wide; five 

 to ten nuts grow in a bunch. 



Before the discovery of the trees, nuts picked up at sea led to many fabulous tales. 

 Medicinal qualities were ascribed to the nuts and extravagant prices were paid for 

 them. 



Ebony (probably grown in Siam); from Centennial Exposition, 1876. 5318. Cubic 

 contents, 3 feet ; weight, 272 jiounds. 



There come into the market a number of dift'ereut woods called " Ebony," highly 

 prized for their deep black color; hard, heavy, and closely grained, and susceptible 

 of a high polish. They are derived from various botanical families, mostly, how- 

 ever, from the genus Diospyrus, to which our persimmon {Diospyriis Virfjiniana) 

 belongs. 



The best ebony woods are found in India, esiiecially Ceylon. The supplies of Di- 

 ospyrus ebenum, whicli furnishes the best and to which the name Avas first applied, 

 is almost exhausted. 



The sapwood of the tree is milk-white, changing with age into black heartwood. 



Diospyrus melanoxylon now furnishes the main supply. 



The ebony from Abj^ssinia, called "Mozzuugha," is derived from a species of For- 

 nasinia, of the Leguminosai family. 



The West Indies, French Guiana, and South Africa also supply the market with 

 eltony woods of various qualities and shades, undetermined as to species. 



The most valuable of the accessions during* the year is the collection 

 of woods of the Argentine Republic, one hundred and eleven species, 

 a gift of the Museo de Productos Argentinos at Buenos Ayres, which 

 was secured by Mr. J. F. Thompson. These wood-sections were accom- 

 panied by a catalogue for their identification, which in somewhat altered 

 form, for readier reference, is given below. 



As far as known to us there does not exist any complete lioral work 

 referring specially to tlie Argentine Republic, and certainly none on 

 the arborescent flora. 



Outside of the well-known '■'Flora Brasilicnsis^^ of Martins (C. F. P. 

 von) begun in 1840, still unfinished, which at least in part is apj)licable 



