APEIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1909. 37 



25632 to 25637— Continued. 



Distribution. — A shrub or tree, from 6 to 40 feet high, native of Guinea and 

 Abyssinia and south to Mozambique, in Africa, and of Yemen, in Arabia. 

 The wood, which is much used by the natives, is white and compact, or black 

 in the center, like ebony. 



25635. Millettia ferruginea (Hochst.) Baker. 



Distribution. — A large tree, found in Abyssinia. The powdered seeds ;_"3 

 thrown into the water to stupify fish, and the tree also furnishes a poison for 

 arrowheads. 



25636 and 25637. Hyphaexe thebaica (L.) Mart. 



25636. From Assab. 25637. From Argodat. 



Distribution. — A palm, native of the valley of the Gambia River in upper 

 Guinea, and of Nubia, Abyssinia, Somaliland, and British East Africa in the 

 Nile Valley; also native of extratropical Egypt and Arabia. 



25639 and 25640. 



From Perth, western Australia. Presented by Mr. P. L. Richardson, acting 

 inspector-general of forests, Department of Woods and Forests. Received 

 June 3, 1909. 

 Seed of the following: 



25639. Xanthorrhoea preissii Endl. 

 "This grass-tree, which forms a conspicuous feature of the Australian land- 

 scape, is among those strange members of the rush family that have a decided 

 trunk, or caudex. This species often has a trunk attaining a height of 15 feet, 

 surmounted by a dense, symmetrical crown of foliage, composed of a multi- 

 tude of brittle, linear leaves which spread or curve gracefully in all directions. 

 From the center of this tuft of leaves arises a solitary, scepter-like flower 

 stalk, terminating in a dense cylindrical spike of numerous, closely packed 

 greenish flowers. This picturesque desert plant is well worth trial in the 

 warmer and more arid regions of the United States." (Extract from Bailey's 

 Cyclopedia of American Horticulture. •) 



Distribution. — A native of western Australia, found from St. Stirling Range 

 to the Vasse and Swan rivers. 



25640. Nuytsia floribunda (Labill.) R. Br. 

 A terrestrial tree belonging to the mistletoe family, often 35 feet in height, 



with spreading branches. The leaves are linear and thick, about 3 inches 

 long, or reduced to small scales on the new shoots. The flowers are orange- 

 yellow, in showy racemes, crowded at the ends of the branches. The fruit is 

 a nut h inch long with 3 broad thick wings. 



Distribution. — It is a native of western Australia, extending from King 

 George's Sound to the Swan and Murchison rivers. 



25641. Eleocharis tuberosa (Roxb.) Schultes. 



"Water chestnut." 



From China. Procured by Mr. G. P. Rixford, of this Department, in San Fran- 

 cisco, Cal., from a Chinese importer. Received June 16, 1909. 

 " The corms or tuberous rhizomes of the above plant are a great favorite with the 

 Chinese. They are mostly eaten raw, but are also sliced and shredded in soups and 

 168 



