1270 



Ribes fasciculatum ehinense (Grossulariaceae) , 45689. 

 From Jamaica Plain, Mass. Presented by the Arnold 

 Arboretum. Handsome shrub, native of northern China, 

 growing to 4 feet in height, and chiefly valued for 

 its late persistent foliage, and the bright scarlet 

 berries which remain on the branches during the whole 

 winter. The small greenish flowers are dioecious, and 

 the insipid fruit is sub-globose, scarlet, glabrous 

 and ^ inch across. The subspecies differs from the 

 type in having larger leaves, and the young branches, 

 petioles and leaves pubescent. (Adapted from Bailey, 

 Standard Cyclopoedia of Horticulture. Vol.5, p. 2960.) 



Rubus trichomallus (Rosaceae), 45356. From Guate- 

 mala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural 

 Explorer for this Department. "(No. 186aa. ) A very 

 interesting species of Rubus which I have seen only 

 in the Verapaz. It is common about Purula, Tactic and 

 San Cristobal, and I have seen it as far east as Sep- 

 acuite. It occurs at elevations of approximately 5,000 

 to 6,000 feet. There is another wild Rubus in this 

 region which is more common but its fruits are much 

 more seedy and of acid flavor. This plant sends up 

 strong, rather stiff canes sometimes 10 or 15 feet in 

 length. They are covered abundantly with reddish spines, 

 the young branchlets appearing coarsely hairy. The 

 leaves are trifoliate (distinguishable by this means 

 from the other species whose leaves are composed of 5 

 leaflets), and velvety in texture. The leaflets are 

 ovate-acuminate, about 3 inches long, finely serrate. 

 The flowers which are rather small, are produced in 

 large terminal racemes. The fruits are not as large 

 as in many wild blackberries, being scarcely more than 

 half an inch in length, but they are of delicious fla- 

 vor, and the seeds are so soft that they are scarcely 

 felt in the mouth. In this latter respect the spe- 

 cies is a marked contrast to the others seen in Guate- 

 mala, the seeds of wild blackberries being usually 

 very large and hard. The plant bears abundantly, and 

 the sweetness of the fruits makes them very desirable 

 for eating in the fresh state . This Rubus can be strong- 

 ly recommended for trial in the southern United States . " 

 (Popenoe . ) 



Saccharu m offieinarum (Poaceae), 45513. Sugar cane . 

 From Reduit, Mauritius. Presented by H. A. Tampany, 

 Director, Department of Agriculture. M.P.55. A widely 

 grown variety, exceeded only by White tanna in area 



