1278 



of hardiness. Many species tested in California have 

 proved to be too tender. P. ligularis , with slight pro- 

 tection during the first winter or two, certainly ought 

 to thrive in the southern half of the state. "In Guat- 

 emala it is a rampant climber, scrambling over trees 

 and buildings, and covering them with a canopy of green. 

 It goes to the tops of trees 35 to 40 feet in height. 

 Its foliage is bold, the large, cordate leaves being 

 as much as 6 or 8 inches in length. The ripening sea- 

 son commences in early fall and extends through the 

 winter. Large plants bear abundantly, yet I have never 

 seen a vine so laden with fruits as some of the plants 

 of P. edulis which grow in California gardens. The 

 fruits are commonly 2| inches in length and deep or- 

 ange-yellow in color. Sometimes a purple-fruited va- 

 riety is seen. The brittle outer shell or pericarp, 

 when broken away atone end, exposes the small elliptic 

 seeds individually enclosed in juicy white aril. The 

 aroma of the fruit is delightful; it may properly be 

 termed perfumed. The flavor is equally pleasant, and 

 unlike many other passifloras is not unduly acid. The 

 fruit is commonly eaten out of hand, for which mode of 

 use it seems best adapted. One can consume' a large 

 number of them without any ill effects. The fruits are 

 often brought into the markets of Guatemala upon the 

 backs of Indians from distances of 100 miles. The per- 

 icarp is so tough that it is not easily bruised, hence 

 the fruit can be transported without difficulty. It is 

 attractive in appearance, and so popular in Guatemala 

 that it realizes higher prices in the markets than 

 the majority of other fruits which compete with it. 

 The term granadilla (diminutive from granada, Spanish for 

 pomegranate) is applied in tropical America to the 

 fruits of various passifloras. It is an attractive 

 name, and it seems desirable to retain it, but an ad- 

 ditional word is necessary to distinguish between the 

 various species. The one under consideration might 

 well be called the sweet granadilla." (Wilson Popenoe.) 



Persea americana (Lauraceae), 45562. Avocado. From 

 Guatemala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricul- 

 tural Explorer for this Department. "(No. 214. Avocado 

 No. 34. Ishim. November 20, 1917.) From the terreno of 

 Ignacio Hernandez, at San Lorenzo del Cubo , near An- 

 tigua. While most avocados in the Antigua region do 

 not ripen their fruits until February or March, this 

 one matures its entire crop by the end of November. 

 It can be considered, therefore, a very early variety, 





