﻿48 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



44683 and 44684— Continued. 



Tactic, in the Department of Alta Vera Paz. Since the altitude is about 

 6,000 feet, the plant should be slightly hardy, and may succeed in Cali- 

 fornia as well as in Florida. It reaches a height of about 8 feet; its 

 leaves are narrow and about 3 inches long ; the flowers are borne in long 

 spikes and are individually about half an inch in diameter and bright 

 purple in color. The plant is used by the Indians in place of soap, the 

 leaves when macerated in water making green suds." (Popenoe.) 

 44684. Rondeletia BUFESCENs Robinson. Rubiacea?. 



"(No. 103. From Chitzuhai, near Tactic, Alta Vera Paz. April 17, 

 1917.) A handsome pink-flowered shrub from the mountains north of 

 Tactic, near the settlement of Chitzuhai, Alta Vera Paz, at an altitude 

 of more than 6,000 feet. This plant grows among second-growth timber, 

 where there is an abundance of sunlight. It is slender in habit, reach- 

 ing a height of 8 feet or more, and bears large corymbs of small, ex- 

 ceedingly fragrant flowers of a delicate shell-pink color. It seems well 

 worthy of a trial in California and Florida." (Popenoe.) 



44685. Astilbe taqueti Vilm. Saxifragacea?. 



From Paris, France. Plants purchased from Vilmorin-Andrieux & Co. 

 Received May 16, 1917. 

 A very robust perennial herb, 2 to 2\ feet in height, with tripinnate, finely 

 and doubly dentate leaves, and panicles of reddish purple flowers borne on 

 stout flowering stems in July. The flowering stems are covered with long red 

 hairs which are especially abundant on young growth. The plant may be prop- 

 agated from the abundant seeds, but if placed near closely related species there 

 would be danger of hybridization. (Adapted from Revue Horticole, December 

 16, 1916.) 



44686 to 44688. 



From China. Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural Explorer for 

 the Department of Agriculture. Received at the Plant Introduction Gar- 

 den, Chico, Calif., April 21, 1917. Quoted notes by Mr. Meyer. 



44686. Amygdalus davidiana (Carr.) Zabel. Amygdalaceae. Peach. 

 [Prunus davidiana Franch.) 



"(No. 2328a. Peking, China, December 15, 1916.) Stones of the david- 

 iana peach gathered in Chihli Province by various Chinese collectors and 

 purchased from them. To be grown as stock for various stone fruits in 

 the semiarid regions in the United States." 



44687. Ziziphus jtjjuba Mill. Rhanmacese. Jujube. 

 (Z. sativa Gaertn.) 



"(No. 2329a. Peking, China, December 16, 1916.) Small dried jujube 

 fruits, selected for good kernels, purchased in the open market at Peking. 

 To be grown for stocks for improved varieties." 



44688. Diospyros lotus L. Diospyracese. Persimmon. 

 "(No. 2331a. Peking, China, December 16, 1916.) Dry ghoorma fruits 



full of seeds, purchased in the open market at Peking. To be distributed 

 among growers of oriental persimmons in semiarid sections of the United 

 States as a drought and alkali resistant stock. Chinese name Hei tsao 

 (black jujube), which is a misnomer." 



