﻿OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1917. 43 



45505 and 45506— Continued. 



closely to the cotyledons. A few other varieties showing these same 

 characteristics were seen in the same locality, and it is possible that 

 they may not be true Guatemalan avocados, though in most respects 

 they appear to belong to this race. 



" In form the fruit is long and slender, sometimes slightly curved, 

 and sometimes becoming pyriform. It is medium sized, weighing about 

 12 ounces. The surface is smooth and deep green in color. The skin 

 is thin and surrounds deep-yellow flesh of good quality, without fiber 

 or discoloration. The seed is medium sized, and while it never rattles in 

 its cavity it does not fit as snugly as in nearly all other Guatemalan 

 varieties. 



" A formal description of tlr's variety is as follows : 



" Form elongated to slender pyriform, sometimes curved ; size medium. 

 weight 12 ounces, length 5| to 6* inches, greatest breadth '2\ to 3 inches ; 

 base narrow, rounded, the short, stout stem (2 to 3 inches long) in- 

 serted obliquely ; apex quite smooth, uniformly bright green in color, 

 with very numerous minute yellowish dots ; skin very thin, less than one- 

 sixteenth of an inch, but firm and tough; flesh rich yellow near the 

 seed cavity, changing to light green near the skin, firm, of fine texture, 

 free from fiber, and of rich, nutty flavor ; quality very good ; seed 

 medium sized, weighing about \\ ounces, conical to slender conical in 

 form, the cotyledons smooth, with the seed coats adhering loosely." 

 (Popenoe.) 

 45506. Malpighta sp. Malpighiacese. 



" (No. 196. City of Guatemala, Guatemala. November 6. 1917.) 

 Cuttings of azerola, from Amatitlan (altitude 3,900 feet). The name 

 azerola, which properly belongs to species of Crataegus, is applied, in 

 central Guatemala, to a -large Malpighia the fruits of which are not 

 unlike those of the Barbados cherry {Malpighia eclulis) . I have seen 

 the plant only in a few places; it is most abundant at Amatitlan, where 

 it is seen in a large proportion of the gardens and dooryards. 



" Tliis spec'es is much larger than 21. edulis, often becoming a small 

 bushy tree 20 feet n height, but more commonly seen as a large shrub, 

 spreading in habit, with a dense crown. When young, the leaves are 

 covered with a thick whitish tomentum ; when mature, they are mem- 

 branaceous, elliptic-acuminate in form, about 4 inches long, cuneate at 

 the base, bright green and glabrous above, heavily pubescent with the 

 venation prominent below. The flowers are produced in small axillary 

 clusters. Individually,- they are scarcely an inch broad, with clawed 

 crapelike petals of lilac-pink color. The fruits, which ripen mainly dur- 

 ing August and September, are the size of a large cherry, but flattened 

 and sometimes pointed toward the apex. They are bright red when 

 fully ripe, with a tender skin and juicy, whitish flesh of peculiar sub- 

 acid flavor. The seeds, three in number, are roughly winged. The 

 character of the growth suggests that this plant may be slightly hardy. 

 It has not been seen in the lowlands, but is grown at altitudes of 4,000 

 to 5,000 feet where the climate is comparatively cool, but npt cold 

 enough to experience severe frosts. The plants produce abundantly. 

 While not a fruit likely to become of great importance in the United 

 States, it possesses sufficient interest and value to merit a trial. The 

 regions in which it seems likely to succeed are Florida, southern Texas, 

 and California." (Popenoe.) 



