APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1908. 35 



22811 to 22818— Continued. 



22813. Pinellia cochinchinense (Blunie) Wo F. Wight. (Arisaema 



COCHINCHINENSE BlUUie.) 



22814. Colocasia indica (Lour.) Kunth. 



22815. Xanthosoma sagittaefolium (L.) Schott. 



22816. Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott. 



22817. Arum sp. (?) 



22818. Colocasia escttlenta (L.) Schott. 



"As many as seven species of the Colocasia are found native in Cochin China, 

 two of which are edible. Of these two, the Colocasia indica and the Colocasia 

 esculenta, known to the natives as Khoia mon sen and Khoia nion sap, respec- 

 tively, the latter, which is by far the best species for food as well as in yield, 

 includes two additional varieties, known as Mon ding and Mon mink tia. 

 I " In addition to these edible species, there are as many as four ornamental 

 varieties, and one, the Pinellia cochinchinense, is a medicinal herb ; all flourish 

 in a wild state. 



" The cultivation of the edible species should begin in March or April. They 

 require a marshy soil and are planted in ridges like sweet potatoes, about 30 

 cm. apart, with about twice that space between the ridges. Young offshoots 

 from the bottom of the plants are also used for plant propagation, and the time 

 necessary to mature is six months. 



"The tubers are eaten boiled, the same as the sweet potato, and a kind of 

 flour is also made from them. The price of a picul of 60 kilograms is 1 

 piaster 80 — less than 7 cents per pound." (Conner.) 



22819. Dendrocalamus strictus (Koxb.) Nees. Bamboo. 



From India. Presented by Mr. Jean Houzeau de Lehaie, Saint Symphorien, 

 Belgium, through Lady Brandis, 21 Kaiserstrasse, Bonn, Germany. 

 Received May 6, 1908. 

 See S. P. I. No. 21548 for description. 



22820 to 22824. Akdropogon sorghum (L.) Brot. 



From Entebbe, Uganda. Presented by Mr. M. T. Dawe, officer in charge, 

 Botanical, Forestry, and Scientific Department, deceived April 6, 1908. 

 Seed of the following sorghums ; varietal descriptions by Mr. Carleton R. Ball : 

 22820. 



Apparently a sweet sorghum from discoloration of pith ; seed and 

 glumes similar in shape and size to Sumac sorgo, but branches longer 

 and spreading. Seeds remarkably small. 

 22821. 



Similar to No. 22S20; pith also discolored; head much longer; seeds 

 larger. 

 22822. 



Large head; long spreading branches; glumes short, black, shining; 

 seeds flattened, somewhat pointed at tip, orange-red or paler to nearly 

 dirty white. 

 22823. 



Similar to No, 22S22, but head and branches smaller ; seeds dirty white 

 or with pinkish tinge. 

 142 



