1109 



other parts of the Alta Verapaz the pacaya is also 

 quite common, and it is grown In the southern part of 

 Guatemala as well. Since it succeeds here at eleva- 

 tions of 5000 feet or even higher, where the winters 

 are quite cool, it would seem that it ought to be a 

 success in southern California and Florida, though It 

 is difficult to predict what effect the sandy soil of 

 the latter state may have upon it. The palm grows to 

 a height of about 15 feet, having a slender stem about 

 two inches in diameter, and handsome leaves somewhat 

 reminding one of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (Areca lutescens) . 

 The foliage is of a rich green color. The inflores- 

 cences are produced along the trunk, in the winter 

 and spring, and apparently more or less throughout 

 the year. Before the spathe has opened it is removed 

 from the palm, opened, and the tender inflorescence, 

 nearly white in color, and finely branched, is removed 

 and eaten. Its preparation for the table consists in 

 dipping it in a batter made of eggs and then frying 

 it, in enveloping it in an omelet, in boiling it and 

 serving it as a vegetable, or in mixing it with other 

 vegetables to form a salad. When very young and ten- 

 der its flavor is agreeable but when older, and near- 

 ly ready to emerge from the spathe, the inflorescence 

 has a strongly bitter taste which makes it disagree- 

 able. It should, therefore, be used when quite young. 

 The pacaya palm grows in a variety of soils, seeming 

 to do well on clay and also on black sandy loam. An 

 abundance of lime in the soil does not seem to injure 

 it. It is frequently planted in gardens among coffee 

 bushes, and in many sections it is planted beneath 

 large trees, where it may have partial shade. I have 

 seen many beneath large avocado trees, inter-planted 

 with coffee bushes. It may be necessary to furnish 

 shade for the palms in California and Florida, by 

 means of a slat house or some such device, or they 

 might be planted beneath large trees, as they are here 

 in Guatemala. The pacaya, as an article of food, is 

 extensively used in Guatemala, and by local standards 

 commands a good price, single inflorescences usually 

 selling at 2 to 5 for a peso (2| cents). The spathes 

 are pulled from the palms, tied together in small 

 bundles, and thus brought to market." (Popenoe.) 



Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott. (Araceae.) 44066. 

 Tubers of Taro from Oilla, Texas. Presented by Mr. S. 

 Kato. "Yatsu-gashira-imo. A Japanese variety of taro of 



