1398 



lowlands. In fact, it might almost be termed the 'cheri- 

 moya of the lowlands.' As is well known, t?he cheri- 

 moya does not succeed in the tropics unless planted at 

 considerable elevations, where the climate is cool. 

 This species on the contrary, belongs in the lowlands, 

 and the fruit is exceedingly similar in character to 

 a good cherimoya." (Wilson Popenoe, in letter dated 

 June 24, 1918, Tapachula, Mexico.) 



Caesalpinia vernalis (Caesalpiniaceae) , 46949. From 

 Hongkong, China. Presented by Mr. W. J. Tutcher. An 

 ornamental shrub, native of Hongkong, climbing by 

 the reversed prickles on the under side of the leaves. 

 The bipinnate leaves are made up of 9 to 12 pairs of 

 pinnae, each bearing 4 to 8 pairs of ovate leaflets 

 1 inch long. The lemon-yellow flowers are borne in 

 racemes about 6 inches long. (Adapted from Curtis, 

 Botanical Magazine, vol. 133, pi. 8132.) 



Canna edulis (Cannaceae), 46821. Queensland arrowroot. 



From Hawaii. Tubers presented by the Agricultural 

 Experiment Station, Honolulu. "This plant, which is 

 exclusively cultivated in Queensland , grows to a great 

 height , of ten rising to 8 or 9 feet. It has very large, 

 broad, ribbed leaves; and as many as 15 to 20 stalks 

 rise from a single stool, each stalk representing a 

 large bulb. In the flowering season the plant sends 

 up a long, straight spike from the head of which bursts 

 a beautiful branch of bright scarlet flowers having 

 the appearance of those of the common canna known as 

 'Indian Shot' but far larger. The seeds do not often 

 mature, however , as do those of the canna family gener- 

 ally. The bulbs from which the arrowroot of commerce 

 Is prepared form a compact mass on and near the sur- 

 face of the soil, and so prolific is the plant that I 

 have dug from a single stool as much as 60 Ib. and even 

 80 Ib. weight of bulbs." (A. J.Boyd, Queensland Agri- 

 cultural Journal, vol. 10, p. 32.) 



"The rootstocks are edible and palatable when 

 properly cooked. More culinary experimentation with 

 them, however, will be required before any definite 

 decision regarding their probable popularity can be made . 

 Mr. F. G. Krauss informs us that in Hawaii, where the Ex- 

 periment Station officials have been growing an acre 

 of C. edulis, it has been eaten after being boiled for 

 30 minutes and then mashed like boiled potatoes; he 

 declares it is a good substitute for the potato, and 

 that it outyields the potato two to one. The tops have 

 been used as forage for cattle and swine." (Fairchild.) 



