﻿OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1918. 43 



46862. Jatropha urens L. Euphorbiacese. 



From Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba. Cuttings presented by Dr. Mario 

 Calvino, director, Experiment Station. Received December 30, 1918. 



Variety inermis. 



The chaya is a shrub with fleshy branches bearing palmate 3-lobed leaves, 

 12 to 25 centimeters wide, dark green in color. The flowers are small, white, 

 very pretty, especially in the wild spiny variety. There are two types of chaya, 

 one provided with stinging hairs and the other unarmed, except for one or two 

 hairs on the peduncle or petiole. This latter type is the one cultivated in 

 Yucatan for the leaves, which are eaten in the same way as spinach, especially 

 with eggs and hash. These leaves are rather thick and keep easily for several 

 days, so that they could become a winter export, if once they were known and 

 appreciated in the North. The chaya is propagated by cuttings, choosing the 

 tips of the branches, to avoid the heavy bark, which calluses with difficulty. 

 (Adapted from Revista de Agricultura Comercio y Trabajo; Cuba, vol. 2, no. 8, 

 p. 364.) 



" Chaya de Mexico. The leaves are edible ; the following is the result of an 

 analysis of them made at our station during the rainy season : Moisture, 74.00 

 per cent ; protein, 0.94 per cent ; ether extract, 0.20 per cent ; carbohydrates, 

 20.71 per cent; crude fiber, 2.25 per cent; ash, 1.90 per cent." {Calvino.) 



46863. Paullinia cupana Kunth. Sapindacese. Guarana. 

 From Para, Brazil. Presented by Dr. J. Simao da Costa. Received De- 

 cember 30, 1918. 



A climbing shrub with compound leaves made up of five, irregularly toothed 

 leaflets. The small whitish flowers are borne in long racemes and are followed 

 by 3-valved capsules about the size of filberts, each containing from one to 

 three seeds. The pounded seeds are extensively used in Brazil as a nerve 

 stimulant and restorative. The active principle is said to be the same as thein 

 and is produced more abundantly than in any other plant, often as much as 

 5 per cent being found. The pounded seeds are formed into cylindrical cakes 

 from which about a teaspoonful of powder is rasped off into a glass of cold 

 water, making a refreshing and stimulating drink. (Adapted from Lindley, 

 Treasury of Botany, p. 852.) 



46864. Actinidia chinensis Planch. Dilleniacese. Yang-tao. 



Plants grown from cuttings of S. P. I. No. 21781 sent to the Plant Intro- 

 duction Field Station, Chico, Calif., by Mr. William Hertrich, San 

 Gabriel, and grafted on seedlings of S. P. I. No. 46131. Numbered for con- 

 venience in recording distribution. 

 " The yang-tao, a deciduous climber, native to Szechwan Province, has at- 

 tracted considerable attention because of the high quality of its fruits and the 

 ornamental value of the plant. The leaves have a plushlike texture and an 

 unusual dark-green color, while their large size and regular spacing add to 

 the beauty of the vine. The flowers are buff yellow to white, fragrant, often 1$ 

 inches across and are produced in great abundance. The fruits are ovoid to 

 globose and about 2 inches long. The outside is russet brown and clothed with 

 villous hairs. The flesh is green, of most excellent flavor, resembling that of a 

 gooseberry, but tempered with a flavor peculiarly its own. The fruit is good 

 when eaten fresh, and it also makes a very fine jam and sauce." (David Fair- 

 child.) 



