﻿JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1919. 43 



47221 and 47222. Barosma crenulata (L.) Hook. Rutaceae. 



Buchu. 



From Cape Town, South Africa. Presented by the Conservator of Forests. 

 Received March 8, 1919. 



A small evergreen shrub, with opposite or alternate, simple, dotted, leathery 

 leaves, in the axils of which the flowers appear. The buchu leaves of commerce 

 are procured chiefly from Barosma crenulata, B. crenata, and B. serratifolia. 

 The leaves are much used in medicine as a stimulant and tonic and appear to 

 have a specific effect in chronic diseases of the bladder, their action probably 

 being dependent on the powerful-smelling volatile oil which they contain. 

 (Adapted from Lindley, Treasury of Botany, p. 125.) 



47221. Collected at French Hoek, Cape Province. 



47222. Collected at Dluitjes Kraal, Ceres, Cape Province. 



47223. Kokia drynarioides (Seem.) Lewton. Malvaceae. 



From Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands. Presented by Mr. J. F. Rock. Re- 

 ceived March 10, 1919. 



" From Pukoo, Japulehu, Molokai." (Rock.) 



A tree, 4 to 8 meters high, woody throughout, with membranous, nearly 

 glabrous, cordate, five to seven lobed leaves on long petioles, and bright red 

 flowers, of silky texture, on stout peduncles, single in the axils of the upper- 

 most leaves. The thick, woody, ovoid capsule, about an inch in length, contains 

 several obovoid seeds which are covered with a reddish brown tomentum. 

 Of this exceedingly interesting species there has been only one tree in exist- 

 ence up to a few months ago. This same tree, which was declared dead, still 

 showed some signs of life and produced a few capsules with mature seeds ; but 

 this is evidently the last, only a small branchlet having produced a few leaves. 

 A few seeds of this tree have been sent to Washington to the Bureau of 

 Plant Industry [S. P. I. No. 39354] ; thus it is hoped still to perpetuate this 

 most interesting plant. Several trees were found on the west end of Molokai, 

 at Mahana ; all are now dead, owing to ravages of cattle, sheep, and goats, 

 which eat off the bark and leaves. (Adapted from Rock, The Indigenous Trees 

 of the Havjaiian Islands, p. 307.) 



" Seeds from a seedling tree given to Mr. C. C. Conradt, of Pukoo, Molokai, in 

 1911. The tree has flowered and fruited this season for the first time; it bore 

 five seeds — three of which I planted here, and two I have sent to you. The 

 original tree on Molokai [parent of Mr. Conradt's tree] is dead." (Letter of 

 Mr. Rock, April U, 1919.) 



47224. Barleria cristata L. Acanthaceae. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Seeds presented by the director, Gizeh Branch, Minis- 

 try of Agriculture. Received March 11, 1919. 

 A tropical shrub, with axillary, or terminal, purplish blue or rarely white 

 flowers in dense spikes. It is sometimes used as a bedding plant. (Adapted 

 from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 1, p. J t 5J t .) 



47225. Carica sp. Papayaceae. Papaya. 

 From the Cauca Valley, Colombia. Presented by Mr. M. T. Da we, San 



Lorenzo, Colombia. Received March 13, 1919. 



