﻿28 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



41878 and 41879— Continued. 



it bears fruits, which grow to the size of large sparrow's eggs. The seeds- 

 are drab outside and whitish inside. They sell in the market for 100 

 to 150 cash per cattie. This is one of the five principal poisons mentioned 

 by Shen Nung, so the plant is probably indigenous to China. The Arabic 

 name is da to, which was probably derived from the Chinese name. 

 One of the Persian names means Ricinus from China, so that it is quite 

 possible that the original habitat of this plant was here. The pa tou 

 is oblong, obscurely triangular, about three-quarters of an inch in length, 

 3-celled, and of a yellowish brown color. Each cell contains an oval, 

 flattened, or imperfectly quadrangular seed, resembling a coffee bean. 

 The dark-brown testa incloses tbe yellowish albumen, within which is the- 

 large dicotyledonous embryo, often much shrunken. The testa is very 

 acrid. The fresh fruits, the oil, the testa, and the root of the tree are 

 all used in medicine. The drug is recommended for a very large number 

 of difficulties, but, generally speaking, the Chinese doctors are afraid to 

 employ it on account of the exaggerated notions of its poisonous proper- 

 ties, which were handed down from very ancient times." (Wi-fller.) 



41880. Brosimum alicastrum Swartz. Moracese. Bread-nut tree. 



From Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Presented by Dr. L. Lavedan. New Or- 

 leans, La., through Mr. O. F. Cook, of the Bureau of Plant Industry. Re- 

 ceived February 11, 1916. 

 " The leaves are used extensively for forage purposes in Yucatan, as already 

 reported by Mr. G. N. Collins of this office a few years ago. Dr. Lavedan also 

 considers that the seeds, which are produced in great abundance, might be 

 utilized as a source of industrial starch or perhaps distilled into alcohol. I 

 have assured him that we would be interested to test the possibilities of grow- 

 ing this tree, at least in southern Florida." (Cook.) 



41881. Amygdalus persica L. Amygdalacese. Peach* 

 (Prunus persica Stokes.) 



From Cairns, Queensland, Australia. Cuttings presented by Mr. G. Wil- 

 liams, Department of Agriculture and Stock. Received January 31, 1916. 

 Introduced for breeding experiments. 



41882. Phaseolus caracalla L. Fabacese. Bertoni bean. 



From Puerto Bertoni, Paraguay. Presented by Dr. Moises S. Bertoni. 

 Received February 2, 1916. 

 S. P. I. No. 37010, received as Phaseolus oertonii, a name given by Dr. Fran- 

 ceschi to a Paraguayan bean, is apparently identical with this species. 



41883 to 41900. 



From Kirki, India. Presented by Mr. William Burns, economic botanist, 

 through Mr. C. V. Piper. Received in January, 1916. Descriptive notes 

 by Mr. Piper. 

 41883. Alysicarpus longifolius (Rottl.) Wight and Arn. Fabacere. 



" An annual, erect legume growing 3 to 5 feet high ; leaves lanceolate ; 

 stems slender, rather woody; native to India. In tests in Florida, Mis- 

 sissippi, and elsewhere this plant succeeds well but requires a long sum- 

 mer season to mature. Owing to its sparse leafiness and tough stems, 

 i as well as lack of great vigor, it is not promising." 



See S. P. I. No. 32432 for previous introduction. 



