﻿68 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



42808. Strobilanthes flaccidifolius Nees. Acanthacese. 



From Canton, China. Presented by Mr. P. R. Josselyn, American vice 

 consul in charge. Received May 23. 1916. 

 " The only dye plant at all extensively grown in Szechwan to-day is Strobi- 

 lanthes flaccidifolius (ticnhua), which produces an indigo. In certain parts of 

 the Chengtu Plain this is grown in quantity, and the same is true of the district 

 of Mienchou and elsewhere, but its cultivation is on the decline. It is planted 

 on ridges which are kept flooded between. When the plants are about 3 feet 

 tall they are cut down and the leafy shoots placed in concrete pits full of cold 

 water. After steeping for about five days the stems are removed, leaving a 

 green-colored water. Slaked lime is placed in the water to precipitate the 

 indigo. The water is allowed to drain off, and the dye is found deposited at 

 the bottom of the pit." (E. H. Wilson, A Naturalist in Western China, vol. 

 2, p. 86, 1914.) 



42809. Albizzia lebbeck (L.) Benth. Mimosacese. Lebbeck tree. 



From Cairo, Egypt. Presented by Mr. Thomas W. Brown, Gizeh Branch, 

 Ministry of Agriculture. Received May 23, 1916. 



"The lebbek of Egypt is a large spreading deciduous tree which grows wild 

 in the forests of India, where it is known as the siris tree. Its leaves are 

 composed like those of the honey locust. The greenish yellow flowers are in 

 heads of three or four together, and these are followed by strap-shaped yel- 

 lowish brown pods 6 to 12 inches long and three-fourths to 1£ inches wide. 

 The trunks of the mature trees are smooth with light-colored bark. The sap- 

 wood is white and the heartwood hard, brown mottled with darker longi- 

 tudinal streaks. The wood seasons and works well and is durable. In many 

 respects the lebbek tree is an ideal one for southern roadsides. It grows 

 rapidly, produces a dense shade, thrives in soils which contain little moisture, 

 and is as easily transplanted and propagated by cuttings as a willow. Large 

 trees can be dug up, severely pruned back, and set out with very little risk 

 of their dying. The crowns and irregular branches of the tree are unsymmet- 

 rical enough to relieve that monotony incident to long rows of such trees as the 

 Lombardy poplar so common in Italy and Chile and in Utah, or the cypress so 

 continually met with about north Italian cities. I have not been able to 

 satisfy myself as to the hardiness of the lebbek tree, since such forests as are 

 reported to have occurred in Cairo have been at long intervals. The prob- 

 abilities are, however, that it will withstand slight frost, and experiments to 

 test its hardiness are worthy of being thoroughly made. It may succeed, 

 therefore, in southern California, Arizona, and Florida, possibly also in Texas 

 and Louisiana." (D. O. FaircMld, The Lebbek or Siris Tree, Botany Cir. 23, pp. 

 1-4.) 



42810. Feagakia chtloensis (L.) Duchesne. Rosacea?. 



Strawberry. 



From Chile. Presented by Mr. L. J. Kenna, American consul general, 

 Valparaiso, who secured them from Mr. Robert Christie, Castro, Chile, 

 Received May 26, 1916. 



" Strawberry seed from Cucao, west coast of Chiloe Island, Chile, March, 

 1916." (Christie.) 



