﻿50 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



41574. Baryxyltjm inerme (Eoxb.) Pierre. Ca3salpiniacea3. 

 (Peltophorum ferrugineum Benth.) 



From Littleriver, Fla. Presented by Mr. Charles T. Simpson. Received 

 December 3, 1915. 



"A large, quick-growing, symmetrical tree, with a spreading top and fine 

 graceful feathery foliage, indigenous to Ceylon and Malaya. The young leaves 

 and shoots are covered with a brown velvet tomentum, from which the tree 

 takes its specific name. The tree flowers twice a year at irregular seasons, 

 some specimens being in blossom while others by its side are in ripe fruit. 

 The flowers are rusty yellow, sweet scented, and borne in large erect panicles. 

 Trimen, in his Flora of Ceylon, stated : ' It is a magnificent sight when in full 

 bloom.' It is specially suited to dry districts, but also thrives to perfection in 

 the moist region up to 1,800 feet." (MacMillan, Handbook of Tropical Garden- 

 ing and Planting, 2d ed., p. 299.) 



See S. P. I. Nos. 34330 and 38655 for previous introductions. 



41575. Roystonea floridana Cook. Phcenicaceae. 



Florida royal palm. 



The royal palm of Florida is commonly referred to Oreodoxa regia, though 

 with very doubtful propriety. The branches of the inflorescence are much 

 longer and more lax than those of the species of Cuba and Porto Rico, from 

 which they also differ in the frequent development of tertiary branches, in this 

 respect resembling Roystonea oleracea. The fruits do not resemble those of 

 Roystonea oleracea, but are closely similar to those of the other species, though 

 somewhat smaller and more nearly spherical. The Florida trees are from 28 

 to 35 meters high and occasionally as high as 45 meters, while the royal palms 

 of Cuba and Porto Rico seldom exceed 18 meters. Mr. Charles T, Simpson, of 

 the United States National Museum, states that the palms of southwestern 

 Florida lack the conspicuous bulge so characteristic in the trunks of the Porto 

 Rican trees and that they grow almost in reach of tidewater, while the natural 

 habitat of the Porto Rican species is evidently the limestone hills. In view of 

 these differences it seems preferable to treat the Florida royal palm as a dis- 

 tinct species, for which the name Roystonea floridana is proposed. (Adapted 

 from O. F. Cook, Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club, p. 55If.) 



See S. P. I. No. 9731 and 17060 for previous introductions. 



41576. Terminalia catappa L. Combretacepe. Malabar almond. 



From Littleriver, Fla. Presented by Mr. Charles T. Simpson. Received 

 December 3, 1915. 



A handsome deciduous tree with branches in horizontal whorls, large alter- 

 nate leaves, clustered toward the ends of the branches and usually turning 

 scarlet before falling, and an edible almondlike fruit. 



"A very common tree in Guam, often growing near the shore, but also found 

 inland. The kernels of the fruit are of a fine almondlike consistency and flavor. 

 The crows (Corvus kubaryi) are very fond of them, and the natives eat them 

 as delicacies, either fresh or candied. The bark and leaves are astringent and 

 contain tannin. In India they are mixed with iron salts to form a black pig- 

 ment, with which the natives in certain localities color their teeth and make ink. 



