1070 



product of this tree. The wood is whiter than that of 

 Quebracho Colorado of Chaco. (Adapted from Mell, Forestry 

 Circular 202, on Quebracho Wood, and from Lillo, 

 Contr. Arboles Argentina, p. 3.) 



Sicana odorifera (Veil.) Naudin. (Cucurbitaceae . ) 

 43427. Seeds from Mazatenango, Guatemala. Collected 

 by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer. "A pe- 

 culiar melon called here melocoton (peach). It is not 

 commonly cultivated, and is only occasionally seen in 

 the market. It is cylindrical, a foot in length, 

 about four inches in diameter, with a smooth surface 

 shining black in color. On cutting the melon in halves 

 lengthwise, one finds a narrow zone of flesh next the 

 skin, and the rest of the space occupied principally 

 by seeds, which resemble considerably those of the 

 watermelon. The flavor is rather strong, and suggests 

 that of a canteloupe. Not to be recommended for cul- 

 tivation as a comestible, but may be of interest to 

 those studing the cucurbits." (Popenoe.) 



Simaba cedron Planchon. (Simaroubaceae . ) Seeds of 

 Cedron from Cristobal, Canal Zone. Presented by Mr. 0. 

 W. Barrett. "Mr. Sandberg believes these nuts are 

 high in tannic acid content and also possess some good 

 medicinal qualities since they are used in several 

 native remedies about here. The tree reaches some 15 

 to 25 feet in height and bears great quantities of 

 these brownish fruits consisting of the large seed and 

 a layer, 5 to 15 mm. thick, of reddish yellow flesh, 

 bitter and acrid." (Barrett.) A short, erect, grace- 

 ful tree with a trunk about six inches in diameter, 

 and large, alternate, pinnate leaves, composed of 20 

 or more pairs of leaflets. The white flowers occur 

 in long racemes, similar to those of S. trichilioides. The 

 oval fruits, which are 6 cm. (2| inches) long, are 

 edible. A bitter principle is found throughout the 

 plant, but only the seeds are used medicinally. These 

 seeds are intensely bitter, and are used as a remedy 

 for snake bite, hydrophobia, and in treating fevers 

 and dysentery. If more than 25 or 30 grains are given 

 in a single dose, death may result. This tree is 

 found in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica. (Adapted 

 from Heraud, Nouveau Dictionnaire des Plantes Medi- 

 cinales, pp. 563-565, and from Planchon, in Hooker's 

 Journal of Botany, vol. 5, p. 566.) v 



