987 



clusters suspended from the ends of the branches, present- 

 ing a very ornamental effect. Each fruit is of the size of 

 a large gooseberry, covered with long soft colored spines, 

 the interior being occupied by a large seed, surrounded by 

 a layer of white opaque pulp (aril), which is of an acid- 

 ulous agreeable taste. Birds and bats are partial to it. 

 The tree is readily propagated from seed, but the best var- 

 ieties should be raised by grafts or gootees. Thrives up 

 to 2,000 feet elevation." (MacMillan, Hand book of Tropi- 

 cal Gardening, 2nd Ed., p. 176.) "Pulassan. A Malayan tree, 

 similar to rambiitan in appearance, but differing in the fruit 

 and in the leaves being grey beneath. The fruit is larger 

 than the rambiitan, of a deep purple brown, with short blunt 

 processes, and according to Ridley, the flavor is decidedly 

 superior to that of the latter fruit." (MacMillan, Hand- 

 book of Tropical Gardening, 2nd Ed., p. 176.) 



Osterdamia matrella (L.) Kuntze. (Poaceae.) 42389. Seeds 

 from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Presented by Dr. 

 J. H. Maiden, Director Botanic Garden. A grass of consider- 

 able value on littoral swamps and dry flats near the sea. 

 According to Kirk, it is found sometimes forming a compact 

 turf on dry land, and affording a large supply of succulent 

 herbage for horses, cattle and sheep. Its value, however, 

 in such localities, if bulkier grasses would grow there, 

 must be comparatively little, as, from its close-growing 

 habit, it chokes out all other species. It is evidently 

 much relished by stock, and is worthy of introduction in 

 sand-hill districts near the sea, or saline soil inland. 

 (Abstract from Maiden, Useful Native Plants of Australia, 

 p. 112.) 



Prinsepia utilis Royle. (Amygdalaceae . ) 42623. Seeds from 

 British India. Presented by Mr. M. Buysman, Lawang, Java. 

 "A shrub, 3 to 5 feet; branchlets green, soft, pubescent 

 when young; pith septate. Leaves 1-5 inches, coriaceous, 

 acuminate, entire or serrate. Flowers inch in diameter, 

 white, usually opening in autumn. Drupes | to 2/3 inch, 

 purple, subtended by the withered calyx. Dry rocky hills 

 on the temperate Himalayas, altitude 4,000 to 8,000 feet, 

 from Hazara to Sikkim ascending to 9,000 feet, and Bhotan; 

 Khasia mountains, altitude 5,000 to 6,000 feet." (Hooker, 

 Flora of British India, Vol. 2, p. 323.) 



Primus spp. (Amygdalaceae.) 42439-42440. Seeds from 

 Petrograd, Russia. Collected by Miss Zinaida ab Minkwitz In 

 Turkestan in 1914, and presented by Dr. A. Fischer de Wald- 

 heim, Director, Imperial Botanic Gardens. 42439, P. pros- 

 trata Labill., mountain cherry. 42440, P. spinosissima (Bunge) 

 Franch. wild almond. 



