﻿JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1917. 17 



44994 to 44999— Continued. 



" The leaves are clustered at the ends of the branchlets, though not 

 crowded. The leaf blades are oblong-elliptic, truncate at the base, 

 sharply acute to shortly acuminate at the apex, 8 to 12 inches long, 4 to 

 7 inches broad, bright green and glabrous above, glaucous and rather 

 heavily pubescent below; the pubescence is ferruginous on the midrib 

 and to a less degree on some of the larger transverse veins. The vena- 

 tion is slightly impressed on the upper surface and very prominent be- 

 low. The petioles are 1 to If inches long, narrowly canaliculate toward 

 the articulation with the leaf blade, and ferruginous pubescent like the 

 branchlets from which they arise. 



" The fruit is described as long and slender, almost black, with a large 

 and long seed and thin flesh. The flavor is described as rich and bland, 

 similar, but superior, to that of the avocado. It is highly esteemed by 

 the inhabitants, and it is stated that it has even been shipped to the 

 city of Guatemala and sold in the market there." (Quoted from de- 

 scription furnished with Mr. Popenoe's No. 72.) 



For an illustration of a coyo tree, see Plate II. 



45000 and 45001. 



From Amsterdam, Netherlands. Procured through Mr. Frank W. Mahin, 

 American consul, from J. B. Wijs & Zoon. Received July 21, 1917. 



" Official statistics "as to the exports of these mustards are lacking, but it is 

 estimated that they aggregate abowt 4,000 tons annually, while the home consump- 

 tion is about 500 tons. This seed in Holland is sown in May in sandy soil and 

 must grow for two years." (Mahin.) 



These seeds were introduced for the Bureau of Chemistry, for investigations 

 of commercial mustards. 



45000. Bra ssica alba (L.) Boiss. Brassicacess. White mustard. 



45001. Brassica nigra (L.) Koch. Brassicacese. Black mustard. 



45002 and 45003. Linum usitatissimum L. Linacese. Elax. 



From Amsterdam, Netherlands. Procured through Mr. Frank W. Mahin, 

 American consul, from J. B. Wijs & Zoon. Received July 21, 1917. 

 These seeds were introduced for the Office of Fiber-Plant Investigations. 



45002. No. 1. Blue blossom. 45003. No. 2. White blossom. 



45004. Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart. Phoenicacea?. 



Doum palm. 

 From Cairo, Egypt. Fruits presented by Mr. F. G. Walsingham, Horti- 

 cultural Division, Gizeh Branch, Ministry of Agriculture. Received July 

 21 and 27, 1917. 



" Obtained in the District of Aswan, Upper Egypt, where the species is 

 fairly abundant." (Walsingham.) 



An Egyptian palm, 3 to 9 meters (10 to 40 feet) in height, with a trunk about 

 30 centimeters (a foot) in diameter, either simple or, more frequently, 

 dichotomously branched. The 20 to 30 fan-shaped leaves on the ends of each 

 branch are sheathed at the base by spiny margined petioles. The spadices 

 are 80 to 100 cm. (32 to 40 inches) in length, and up to 5 cm. (2 inches) thick 

 at the base. The fruit is usually an obliquely ovoid nut about 6 cm. (2* inches) 

 long. (Adapted from Muschler, Manual Flora of Egypt, vol. 1, p. 18S.) 

 51552—22 3 



