1067 



bryo located some distance above this point. From a 

 practical standpoint, the anay cannot be considered 

 of great value, inasmuch as the flesh is scanty in 

 quantity. If it were more abundant, its excellent 

 flavor would make the fruit of great value. The fruit 

 falls to the ground while still hard, and requires 

 two or three days to soften and be in condition for 

 eating. The seeds germinate on the ground beneath the 

 trees, and the young plants start off lustily. The 

 larva of some insects, presumably a beetle, attacks 

 the fallen fruits, and tunnels through the seeds. 

 Very few fruits were found on the ground which had not 

 been attacked in this manner. The remarkable simi- 

 larity which this species bears to the cultivated avo 

 cado, and the fact that its fruit is edible and is 

 used by the natives, makes it a subject of particular 

 interest in connection with the study of the cultivat- 

 ed avocados. It Is to be hoped that specimens can be 

 reared and fruited in the United States. The region 

 where the tree is found lies at an elevation of about 

 1200 feet, and is quite moist. On this account, it 

 seems doubtful if the anay will succeed in California. 

 It might be tried in the most protected localities. 

 In south Florida its chances of success seem good." 

 (Popenoe . ) 



Pinus merkusii Jungh. & DeVriese. (Pinaceae.) 43462. 

 Seeds of a pine from Buitenzorg, Java. Presented by 

 the Director, Botanic Gardens. This tree, which is 

 the only pine found south of the equator, attains a 

 height of 100 feet, and forms a flat, umbrella-like 

 crown. It is found in Burma, Borneo, Sumatra and 

 the Philippines, chiefly at elevations of 3000 to 4000 

 feet. The leaves are in clusters of two, the cones 

 are usually in pairs, and the seeds are small, much 

 shorter than the unequal-sided wing. The wood is very 

 resinous, and the trunks are used for masts and spars. 

 (Adapted from Brandis, Indian Trees, p. 691, and from 

 von Mueller, Select Extra-Tropical Plants, 393, 394.) 



Piptadenia excelsa (Griseb.) Llllo. (Mimosaceae . ) 

 43458. Seeds from Argentina. Collected by Mr. H. M. 

 Curran. An unarmed tree, almost 100 feet high, with 

 15 to 20 pairs of leaflets in each leaf, and spikes 

 of flowers two or three inches long. The pods are 

 linear. The rather thin bark is not used in tanning 

 as the other species. The rosy wood, which resembles 

 that of Piptadenia macrocarpa, is tough and straight- 



