856 



Leaves large, of elliptical shape, petioles long, nuts 

 small and each enclosed in a protuded involucre; they are 

 borne in clusters from 2 and 3 up to 7 and 8. Shell very 

 thick; kernels small, but edible. This hazel-tree bears 

 masses of catkins at the time the leaves come out; it 

 looks very much like a birch or an alder and aside from 

 its having a utilitarian use as a nut bearing .tree , it al- 

 so has a decided value for ornamental purposes, especially 

 when planted in a group or a grove of some extent. Through 

 selection and by hybridization possibly, strains can be 

 obtained bearing larger nuts with thinner shells and pos- 

 sessing commercial value. The climate where these hazels 

 thrive is not a very severe one and the trees probably 

 will not be able to stand extreme temperatures. Collected 

 at an elevation of 7000 feet." (Frank N. Meyer's introduc- 

 tion and description. ) 



Daphne tangutica Maxim. (Thymelaeaceae . ) 39914. Rooted 

 plants of a daphne from near Siku, Kansu, China. "A very 

 beautiful evergreen bush of low and compact growth; foli- 

 age dark green and leathery; occurring on stony debris in 

 sheltered ravines and in open woodlands at altitudes from 

 5000 to 10000 feet. Flowers white with a slight violet 

 tinge, faintly scented, appearing in early spring, though 

 some stray ones can be seen in autumn also. Berries 

 bright red and ripe at the end of May and in early June. 

 This shrub is of high decorative nature; it can be employ- 

 ed especially near houses and low walls and may succeed in 

 such sections of the United States where the winters are 

 not too severe, like Long Island, for instance. The plant 

 is apparently easy to propagate from root cuttings, for 

 roots that were seen sticking out amidst pebbles and stony 

 debris and of which the top parts had been chopped off 

 were observed to put forth new sets of branches. In the 

 mountains to the north of Siku, where this Daphne occurs 

 in abundance, one also finds great quantities of Buxus 

 sempervirens and an evergreen species of Pteris, while ivy 

 clings here and there against the rocks; this all often 

 conveying the impression as if man had brought these 

 plants together here and had made a wild garden of it." 

 (Frank N. Meyer's introduction and description.) 



Deringa canadensis (L. ) Kuntze. (Apiaceae.) 39869. Seeds 

 of honewort from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Presented 

 by the Director, Dr. C. Stuart Gager. This native Amer- 

 ican herb, formerly known as Cryptotaenia canadensis DC., 

 Japan, is described by a recent Japanese visitor to Amer- 

 ica, Mr. T. H. Kuwashima, of Mito, as one of the highest 



