﻿12 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



46963 to 46967— Continued. 



A subshrubby morning-glory with a branched stem, 4 to 10 feet in 

 height. The bell-shaped purplish to pinkish corollas are about 3 inches 

 long. (Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 

 3, p. 1659.) 



For previous introduction, see S P. I. No. 37917. 

 For an illustration of this morning-glory in full bloom, see Plate II. 

 46967. Mimosa sp. Mimosacese. 

 Curran No. 260. 



46968. Abelmoschus esctjlentus (L.) Moench. Malvaceae. Okra. 



(Hibiscus esculentus L.) 

 From Avery Island, La. Presented by Mr. E. A. Mcllhenny. Received 

 January 6, 1919. 

 Seeds secured for cultural and other experiments in the investigation of okra 

 seed as a possible commercial source of oil. 



46969. Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels. Sapotacese. Argan tree. 

 (A. sideroxylon Roem. and Schult.) 



From Algiers, Algeria. Presented by Dr. T. H. Kearney, United States 

 Department of Agriculture. Received January 7, 1919. 



" Seeds collected from an argan tree growing in the garden of the School of 

 Medicine at Algiers." (Kearney.) 



The argan tree is in many respects the most remarkable plant of southern 

 Morocco ; and it attracts the more attention as it is the only tree that commonly 

 attains a large size and forms a conspicuous feature of the landscape in the 

 low country near the coast. In structure and properties it is nearly allied to 

 the tropical genus Sideroxylon (ironwood) ; but there is enough of general re- 

 semblance, both in its mode of growth and its economic uses, to the familiar 

 olive tree of the Mediterranean region to make it the local representative of that 

 plant. Its home is the sublittoral zone of southwestern Morocco, where it is 

 common between the rivers Tensift and Sous. A few scattered trees only are 

 said to be found north of the Tensift ; but it seems to be not infrequent in the 

 hilly district between the Sous and the river of Oued Noun, making the total 

 length of its area about 200 miles. Extending from near the coast for a dis- 

 tance of 30 or 40 miles inland, it is absolutely unknown elsewhere in the world. 

 The trunk always divides at a height of 8 or 10 feet from the ground and 

 sends out numerous spreading, nearly horizontal branches. The growth is ap- 

 parently very slow, and the trees that attain a girth of 12 to 15 feet are probably 

 of great antiquity. The minor branches and young shoots are beset with stiff, 

 thick spines, and the leaves are like those of the olive in shape, but of a fuller 

 green, somewhat paler on the under side. Unlike the olive, the wood is of ex- 

 treme hardness, and seemingly indestructible by insects, as we saw no example 

 of a hollow trunk. The fruit, much like a large olive in appearance, but vary- 

 ing much in size and shape, is greedily devoured by goats, sheep, camels, and 

 cows, but refused by horses and mules ; its hard kernel furnishes the oil which 

 replaces that of the olive in the cookery of southern Morocco and is unpleasant 

 to the unaccustomed palate of Europeans. (Adapted from Hooker and Ball, A 

 Tour in Morocco, p. 96.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 3490. 



