﻿24 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



45806 to 45808. Zea mays L. Poacese. Corn. 



From Peru. Procured by Mr. William F. Montavon, American commercial 

 attache, Lima. Received February 7, 1918. 



45806. No. 27. Salmon, Iscuchaca. Salmon-colored corn. 



45807. No. 30. Amarillo Subido, Chongos. Yellow gold-tinged corn of 

 the flour type. 



45808. No. 31. Amarillo Melchocha, Punta. Yellow-paste corn of the 

 flour type. 



45809. Corchorus capsularis L. Tiliacese. Jute. 

 From Calcutta, India. Obtained by Mr. James A. Smith, American consul 



general, from Ralli Bros. Received February 11, 1918. 



" The leaves of both Corchorus capsularis and C. olitorius are commonly 

 eaten as a vegetable when the plants are young, and the practice apparently 

 extends to the wild plant both in India and in other parts of southern Asia; 

 also in Egypt and the Levant, where C. olitorius is said to be an important 

 potherb." (Ralli Bros.) 



This species and the closely allied Corchorus olitorius are the chief sources 

 of the jute fiber of commerce. Corchorus capsularis is annual, attaining a 

 height of 8 to 12 feet, with a long, thin stem branched only at the top. The 

 flowers are small and yellow. The young shoots of some varieties are com- 

 monly used as a potherb, especially in Egypt. The fiber is obtained by means 

 of retting in stagnant pools. Retting consists in steeping the stems in water 

 until they soften sufficiently to allow the fibro-vascular bundles to be extracted 

 from the softer material around them. The fiber is extensively used in the 

 manufacture of cordage, coarse cloth, fishing nets, gunny bags, etc. The 

 plant requires a hot, moist climate followed by a dry season. The method 

 of propagation consists either in broadcasting the seed or transplanting into 

 rows the seedlings raised in a nursery. This plant is indigenous to Ceylon, 

 India, and the Malay Peninsula. (Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia 

 of Horticulture, vol. 1, p. 8^1, and Macmillan, Handbook of Tropical Gardening 

 and Planting, p. 542.) 



45810. Schoenocaulon ornciNALE (Schlecht.) A. Gray. Melan- 



thiaceae. Sabadilla. 



From Caracas, Venezuela. Presented by Mr. H. Pittier. Received Feb- 

 ruary 11, 1918. 



This plant is also known as Asagraea officinalis Lindl., Veratrum officinale 

 Schlecht., and Sabadilla officinarum, Brandt. It is a bulbous plant, growing in 

 grassy places on the eastern declivities of the volcanic range of the Cofre de 

 Perote and Orizaba, near Teocelo, Huatusco, and Zacuapam, down to the 

 seashore in Mexico; also in Guatemala. It has been cultivated near Vera 

 Cruz, Alvarado, and Tlacotalpan, on the Gulf of Mexico. 



The fruit consists of three follicles about half an inch long, united at the 

 base. These are light brown in color and papery in texture. Each follicle 

 usually contains two narrow, pointed, black seeds. The testa incloses an oily, 

 albuminous interior. The seed is inodorous and has an acid bitter taste. 



Sabadilla (Cebadilla) is used principally as a source of veratrin, which is a 

 powerful irritant and counterirritant. In Mexico the bulb of the plant is used 

 as an anthelmintic under the name of cebolleja, but is said to be very danger- 

 ous in its action. (Adapted from Pharmacographia, A History of Drugs, 

 Flucltiger and Hanbury, p. 697.) 



