﻿16 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



44994 to 44999— Continued. 



between Salama and Santo Tomas. It grows in dry, rocky places and also 

 along the banks of streams, reaching a height of about 3 feet under the 

 former conditions and 6 feet under the latter. The foliage is coarsely 

 pinnate, with oval, glaucous leaflets. The flowers, which are produced 

 in clusters of considerable size, are of a deep lilac and quite attractive. In 

 form they resemble the flowers of the common pea, but are smaller, being 

 about half an inch broad. The shrub seems well worthy of trial in Cali- 

 fornia and Florida." 



44998. Tabebuia pentaphylla (L.) Hemsl. Bignoniacese. 



"(No.. 154a. July 9, 1917.) Matiliscuate. Seeds of a handsome 

 flowering tree found in north-central Guatemala, especially in the 

 Valley of Salama, and commonly growing near small streams. I have 

 seen it at altitudes of 2,000 to 3,500 feet. The tree is about 35 feet high 

 at maturity, with .a spreading crown, deciduous during the latter part 

 of the dry season (January to March), and producing large clusters of 

 pink flowers which make the tree a mass of color visible for some dis- 

 tance. Its flowering season is from January to March, and the seeds, 

 which are produced in long, slender pods, ripen in May and June. 



"As an ornamental tree for cultivation in southern Florida and possibly 

 also in California the matiliscuate seems well worthy of trial. Its only 

 defect is its habit of dropping its leaves during the dry months of the 

 year. If it flowers in the same months in Florida as it does in Guate- 

 mala, however, it should be a valuable addition to the flowering trees 

 of that region. It thrives on heavy but rocky land and does not seem 

 to require a large amount of water." 



44999. Peesea schiedeana Nees. Lauracese. Coyo. 

 "(No. 161. Bud wood from the sitio of Don David Pierri, San Cristo- 

 bal, Vera Paz, July 3, 1917.) 



" The coyd, chucte, shucte, or, as it is sometimes called, chaucte, is a 

 species of Persea which is undoubtedly indigenous in this region. It is 

 reported also from Zacapa and Chiquimula, but I have seen it only here 

 up to the present. The tree grows on the banks of streams, where the 

 soil is moist and rich. The hills in this region are dry, rocky, and covered 

 with a scanty vegetation of cacti, Pereskia, thorny leguminous shrubs 

 and small trees, and a few other plants. As well as being indigenous in 

 this region, the chucte must be classed as a cultivated fruit tree, since it 

 is occasionally, but not often, planted in gardens. 



"At the present time the chucte is neither in flower nor in fruit. It is 

 said to bloom in February and to ripen its fruit in May and June, con- 

 tinuing until August. One of the two trees which I have seen (this one 

 standing on the north bank of the Rio Motagua a short distance above 

 El Rancho) was about 60 feet in height. The other one was not more 

 than 45 feet high. The general appearance of the tree, its habit of 

 growth, size, and character of bark and foliage are remarkably sug- 

 gestive of an avocado of the West Indian type, but on closer examina- 

 tion it is seen that the leaves are larger than is common with the 

 avocado, the venation is impressed on the upper surface of the leaf, and, 

 most conspicuous of all, the ends of the young branchlets and the 

 petioles are covered with a ferruginous tomentum. The foliage is said 

 to fall just before the tree comes into bloom, the flowers making their 

 appearance along with the new leaves. 



