1456 



temperature than 40C. It Is orange-yellow in color. 

 When fresh, it has a faint odor of violets and Is 

 employed by the natives very extensively in cook- 

 ing. It becomes rancid very quickly. Commercially, 

 it is used In soap-making. In Its native home (Dahomey, 

 for example), the oil is extracted b>/ fermenting the 

 fruits in jars for several days; they are then mashed, 

 the nuts are taken out, and the pulp is boiled in large 

 kettles of water. The oil rises to ihe surface of the 

 water and is skimmed off. Its purification is later 

 brought about by boiling it for some time. The nuts, 

 clean of pulp, are then broken with stones or hammers. 

 The kernel, "palmiste," is removed and dried, after 

 which it is ready for use. These dried kernels are 

 exported to Europe, and yield, under pressure, 40 to 

 42 per cent palmiste oil, which is white, and has a 

 melting point of about 25C. This oil is employed in 

 the making of fine soap. (Adapted from Capus et Bois, 

 Les Produits Coloniaux, 1912, p. 294.) 



Lryt'i.'ina exedsa (Fabaceae), 47498. From Entebbe, 

 Uganda. Seeds presented by the chief forestry officer, 

 Forestry Department. An ornamental tree, native to 

 upper Guinea, growing to a height of 60 feet. It has 

 glabrous branches which are armed wi oh numerous sharp, 

 straight, short prickles. The leaves are trifoliate, 

 the broadly ovate central leaflet being 9 inches long. 

 The bright scarlet flowers are borne in dense racemes 

 about 6 inches long. (Adapted from Oliver, Flora of 

 of Tropical Africa, vol. 2, p. 183.) 



Ipunmea cairica (Convolvulaceae ) , 47532, Morning glory. 

 From Zamboanga, P. I. Seeds presented by Mr. P. J. 

 Wester, agricultural advisor. "Seeds of a white-flowered 

 variety of Ipoi/ioea cairica, extremely attractive and flo- 

 riferous. Unlike most plants of this family, /. cairiea 

 Is ever-blooming. The mauve-colored variety is the 

 most popular climber in the Philippines and very rarely 

 seeds, being propagated by cuttings. The plant from 

 which these seeds were obtained is the only one with 

 white flowers I have seen." (Wester). 



Markhamia platucalyx (Bignoniaceae ) , 47499. From 

 Entebbe, Uganda. Seeds presented by the chief forestry 

 officer, Forestry Department. A tree, 30 to 40 feet 

 high, known in Uganda, where it is native, under the 

 name lusamabia. It is said to yield the finest of local 

 timbers. The compound leaves are made up of 5 to 9 



