﻿8 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



United States for the use of its palatable seeds in confectionery and the prep- 

 aration of morphia for medicinal purposes. The seeds yield a comestible oil. It 

 is of comparatively easy culture." (S. C- Stantz.) 



46316 to 46320. 



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

 July 12, 1918. 



46316. Clianthus puniceus (Don) Soland. Fabacese. Parrot's-bill. 

 A white-flowered form of the kowhai, which in its scarlet-flowered form 



is one of the most gorgeous of New T Zealand flowering plants. With its 

 flowers 2 inches in length in long pendulous racemes and its heavy, dark- 

 green, glossy, pinnate leaves, it should prove a desirable addition to the 

 drooping shrubs suitable for growing in regions having but slight frosts. 

 The flow T ers of this plant in its native haunts are said to be pollinated by 

 birds. (Adapted from Laing and Blackwell, Plants of New Zealand, p. 

 210.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 34716. 



46317. Freycinetia banksii A. Cunn. Pandanacese. 



" The fruit proper does not ripen until many months after the ripening 

 of the white bracts. In size and shape it is almost identical with the 

 Monstera delieiosa:'' (Wright.) 



A vine which climbs to the tops of the tallest trees along the banks of 

 rivers in the North Island of New Zealand. The linear-lanceolate leaves 

 are borne in clusters along the stem, and the flowers appear in the center 

 of these leaf clusters. It is called Lon marrar by the natives, who eat the 

 white fleshy bracts of the flowers for their sugary juice. (Adapted from 

 Hooker, Companion to the Botanical Magazine, vol. 2, p. 377.) 



46318. Meryta sinclaieii (Hook, f.) Seem. Araliacese. 



"It makes a beautiful tree with immense leaves; an ideal specimen for 

 a lawn, but very tender to frost." (Wright.) 



A handsome New Zealand tree, 12 to 24 feet high, with glossy leaves 

 20 inches long and 10 inches wide. The erect panicles of greenish yellow 

 flowers are followed by oblong, shining black fruits. (Adapted from 

 Laing and Blackwell, Plants of New Zealand, p. 312.) 



46319. Pittosporum ralphii Kirk. Pittosporacese. 



A laxly branched shrub 15 to 20 feet high, found in the central district 

 of the North Island of New Zealand. The shoots, sepals, and under- 

 surface of the coriaceous leaves are covered with close white hairs. The 

 fascicles of small, bell-shaped, dark-crimson flowers, with protruding 

 yellow anthers resting on the downy white young leaves, make it a very 

 attractive ornamental shrub. (Adapted from Laing and Blackwell, 

 Plants of Neiv Zealand, p. 195.) 



46320. Sideroxylon costatum (Endl.) F. Muell. Sapotacese. 



A handsome, closely branched tree 40 feet high and 3 feet in diameter, 

 native to the coasts of the North Island and of Norfalls Island in New 

 Zealand. The obovate, entire leaves, 2 to 4 inches long, are coriaceous 

 and shining. The flowers are found one or two together in the axils of 

 the leaves and the fruits are 1 inch in diameter with one to four seeds. 

 The wood is hard, white, and durable, and the bony seeds were formerly 

 used for necklaces. (Adapted from Cheeseman, Manual of the Neiv Zea- 

 land Flora, p. 435.) 



