1346 



Achras zapota (Sapotaceae) , 46237. Sapodilla. From 

 Panama, Republic of Panama. Presented by Mr. Ramon 

 Arias-Feraud. The sapodilla, native of Central Amer- 

 ica and the West Indies, is a tree 25 to 30 feet high 

 with thick, leathery, shiny leaves. It bears two crops 

 of fruit annually, in August and February. Gum and 

 tannin are quite abundant in the green fruit. When 

 ripe, the fruit contains a brown, juicy, luscious pulp 

 surrounding the black seeds. The sapodilla thrives up 

 to an altitude of 3,000 feet; in Florida as far north 

 as Palm Beach. The tree is propagated by seed or by 

 grafting, and makes a very slow, growth. The latex of 

 this tree is the source of chicle, which is used 

 in the manufacture of chewing gum. The fruit varies 

 greatly in size and flavor. It appears on the markets 

 of Florida and other Gulf States, and occasionally in 

 Washington and New York markets. (Adapted from Wilcox, 

 Tropical Agriculture, p. 136.) 



Alectryon subcinereum (Sapindaceae) , 46299. From 

 Nice, France. Presented by Mr. A. Robertson Proschow- 

 sky. "Seeds from a young tree in my garden. It is the 

 first time this species has flowered. The seeds are 

 surrounded by a juicy, red-colored aril which is edi- 

 ble, and of a pleasant, sweet taste, only it is very 

 small. It is rather ornamental like .so many tropical 

 evergreens, and absolutely hardy here. It may, as I 

 expressed in my foregoing letter, serve eventually as 

 stock on which to graft the longan, or the litchi." 

 (Proschowsky. ) 



Amygdalus persica (Amygdalaceae) , 46239. Peach. 

 From Pretoria, Union of South Africa. Presented by 

 Mr. I. B. Pole Evans, Chief, Division of Botany, De- 

 partment of Agriculture. "Transvaal yellow. This, variety 

 Is one of the hardiest we have in this country and the 

 most immune to the more common fungous pests of the 

 peach." (Evans.) 



Attalea sp. (Phoenlcaceae) , 46300. Coquito. From Mex- 

 ico City, Mexico. Presented by Mr. A. L. Herrera. "An 

 undescribed species, closely related to the Cohune, 

 or Corozo, palm (Attalea cohune) of the Caribbean coast 

 region of Central America; it differs from the Cohune 

 palm in the smaller and more rounded fruits and the 

 thinner and more brittle shell of the seed. The seed 

 contains a single kernel, smaller than that of the Co- 

 hune. The kernels contain a high percentage of oil, 



