﻿58 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



44741. Eragrostis superba Peyr. Poacese. Grass. 



From Johannesburg, Union of South Africa. Presented by Mr. J. Burtt 

 Davy, Agricultural Supply Association. Received May 8, 1917. 



Introduced for the Office of Forage-Crop Investigations. 



"(March, 1917. Pretoria district.) One of the best native pasture grasses on 

 the high veld, extending also to the bush veld, its range being from about 3,500 

 feet (or lower) to 5,500 feet or more. It is common in sandy soils in British 

 Bechuanaland, where the rainfall is perhaps not more than 10 inches, coming 

 in summer." (Davy.) 



A perennial tufted grass with culms 2 to 3 feet in length and blades 2 to 8 

 inches long. It is native to South Africa, where it is widely distributed. 

 (Adapted from W. T. Thiselton-Dyer, Flora Capensis, vol. 7, p. 622.) 



44742 and 44743. Pap aver somniferum L. Papaveracese. 



Poppy. 



From the Office of Drug, Poisonous, and Oil Plant Investigations. Seed to 

 be grown for Dr. W. W. Stockberger, Physiologist in Charge. Received 

 May 8, 1917. 

 An erect annual, with handsome varicolored flowers, which is cultivated in 

 the Orient for opium manufacture. It was originally introduced into the United 

 States for the use of its palatable seeds in confectionery and the preparation of 

 morphia for medicinal purposes. The seeds yield a comestible oil. It is of com- 

 paratively easy culture. 



44744 and 44745. 



From Auckland, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. H. R. Wright. Received 

 May 12, 1917. 



44744. Rhopalostylis sapida (Soland.) Wendl. and Drude. Phoeni- 

 cacese. Nikau palm. 



A graceful tree, sometimes 30 feet tall, with a ringed, green stem and 

 leaves 14 feet in length, which are used by the Maoris in making their 

 huts. The flowers and the flowering axis are both white. The fruit is a 

 vivid red drupe about half an inch long and so hard that the settlers have 

 used them for ammunition. The top of the stem is quite juicy and is 

 sometimes eaten. (Adapted from Laing and Blackwell, Plants of New 

 Zealand, p. 84.) 



44745. Coeynocakpus laevigata Forst. Corynocarpacese. Karaka. 

 A handsome evergreen tree with glossy, laurellike, oblong leaves 3 to 



7 inches long, erect panicles of small white flowers 4 inches in length, 

 and oblong, orange-colored fruits an inch long. The outside of the fruit 

 is extremely poisonous, but the kernel is edible and forms one of the 

 staple foods of the Maoris, who cultivate the tree for its seeds. The 

 wood has been much used by the natives of the Chatham Islands in the 

 making of canoes. (Adapted from Laing and Blackwell, Plants of New 

 Zealand, p. 233.) 



44746. Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. Mimosaceae. 



From Coro, Venezuela. Presented by Mr. H. M. Curran. Received May 

 14, 1917. 



A lofty, unarmed, leguminous tree with bipinnate leaves, heads of greenish 

 flowers, and leathery, indehiscent, pulpy, curved pods forming complete circles 



