1353 



Canna edulis (Cannaceae), 46313. Edible canna. From 

 Hawaii. Presented by Mr. J. M. Westgate, Hawaii Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station, Honolulu. An herbaceous 

 perennial with purple stems 8 to 12 feet high, found in 

 the West Indies and South America. The large leaves 

 are green or bronze and the small red f lowers are usually 

 in pairs in a lax raceme. Starch is procured from the 

 thick, edible rootstock and for this purpose the plant 

 is widely cultivated in the tropics. (Adapted from 

 Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 2, 

 p. 657.) "The cultivated canna grows like a weed on 

 the everglade soils of southern Florida and it is well 

 worth trying this starch-producing crop there in com- 

 parison with the Bermuda arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea)." 

 (Fairchild. ) 



Carica sp. (Papayaceae) , 46321. From Mexico. 

 Presented by Mr. Harry Hummel, Tampico. "Papaya broncho. 



This is the ever-blooming papaya and produces a fruit 

 about 3 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. The 

 trees grow wild in the woods, can be transplanted at 

 any time of the year, require no attention except 

 watering, and I believe if cultivated will produce 

 a larger fruit." (Hummel.) 



Carica papaya (Papayaceae), 46334. Papaya. From 

 Mexico. Presented by Mr. Harry Hummel, Tampico. "Papaya 

 real. The fruit from which these seeds were taken was 

 14 inches long and 6 inches in diameter. It is the 

 very best papaya that grows in the Tampico district 

 and is a delicious fruit equal to any muskmelon. The 

 trees grow in sandy loam in a climate which very seldom 

 goes below 40 F. and reaches as high as 110 F." 

 (Hummel. ) 



Chenopodium nuitalliae (Chenopodiaceae) , 46311. From 

 Mexico. Presented by Mrs. Zelia Nuttall, Coyoacan. 

 "Seeds of huauhtzontli, the unripe inflorescence of which 

 is a favorite vegetable of the Mexican Indians. It 

 is boiled or fried in butter - stem and all - small 

 flowering tips being selected and tied together. Much 

 used in Lent. It is very nourishing and palatable. 

 The seeds must be in the milk (like corn, -half ripe). 

 Combines vegetable and cereal." (Nuttall.) "Native 

 name, xochihuauhtli, (flowering huauhtli ). A plant cultivated 

 near the City of Mexico for the sake of its prolific 

 branching inflorescences , which are gathered before they 

 are quite mature and while the seeds are still soft, 



