26 SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 



55983 to 55992— Continued. 



55984. Castanea sp. Fagacea?. Chestnut. 



"(No. 6256a. September, 1922.) Seeds of tall trees found wild in the 

 valleys of the Haitung Range, east of the Tali Lake, at an altitude of 

 8,000 feet. The nuts are larger than those from the mountains near 

 Yangpi, but both are very sweet and delicious in flavor." 



55985. Chaenomeles sp. Malacea?. Chinese quince. 



"(Talifu. September 19, 1922.) Seeds of a quince, called in Chinese 

 Mil kna, cultivated around Talifu. The tree is 50 to 80 feet tall, with a 

 large trunk. The very aromatic fruits, rich yellow with a reddish tinge, 

 have very firm, hard, yellow flesh." 



55986. Colocasia esculexta (L.) Schott. Aracea?. Dasheen. 



"( Talifu. September 22, 1922.) Tubers of a Chinese vegetable called 

 Yee-taa, sold in the Talifu market. The plant is grown in dry ground, 

 like corn or wheat, and not flooded. The tubers grow in great numbers 

 around the base of the stem ; they are white and mealy and eaten boiled, 

 like potatoes. The flower stalk is about 2 feet long, of a pinkish mauve 

 color, with a slender spathe of the same color, and with cream-colored 

 flowers ; the whole is eaten as a vegetable, either fried or boiled." 



55987. Coryxus sp. Betulacere. Hazelnut. 



"(No. 3292. Nguluke. September 11, 1922.) Seeds of a tree 60 to SO 

 feet in height, with trunks 2 to 3 feet in diameter, found at altitudes of 

 9,500 to 10,000 feet among limestone bowlders near springs at the foot 

 of the Likiang Snow Range. The tree is handsome, with very large 

 leaves, and bears large edible nuts. 



55988. Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge. Malacca?. Hawthorn. 



"(Talifu. September 20, 1922.) Seeds of a shrub 6 to 8 feet high, 

 obtained from fruits sold in the Talifu market, where they are strung 

 on fiber. These small applelike fruits mature in September. They have 

 large seeds and rather sour flesh and are candied like jujubes. Chinese 

 name Shan It fco." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 55932. 



55989. .Tuglans eegia L. Juglandaee«\ Walnut. 



"(Yangpi. September. 1922.) Seeds of wild walnut trees 40 to 50 

 feet in height, with a spread of nearly a hundred feet, found in the 

 mountains at an altitude of 8.000 feet. The nuts are large, thin shelled, 

 and sweet." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 54790. 



55990. Maius sp. Malacea?. Apple. 



"(No. 6558. Chienchuan. September 15, 1922.) Seeds of a wild 

 apple, tree 20 feet high, with stiff spreading branches, found in a dry. 

 hot. rocky location in the Chienchuan Valley north of Talifu. The fruits 

 are a little larger than a pea. glossy as if varnished, bright red on one 

 side and yellow on the other." 



55991. Meconopsis integrifoeta (Maxim.) Franch. Papaveracese. 

 "(Likiang. September, 1922.)" 



For previous introduction and description, see S. P. I. No. 55957. 



55992. Osteomeles schwerinae C. Schneid. Malacca?. 



"(No. 6554. Langchinng. September 10, 1922.) Seeds of an orna- 

 mental, spreading shrub 2 to 3 feet high, found in the Langchiung 

 Mountains at an altitude of 7,500 feet and common in the arid regions 

 north and south of Talifu. It differs considerably from the Pacific 

 species, Osteomeles anthyllidi folia; the flowers are pinkish white and 

 very fragrant, and the sweet edible fruits are uniformly dull purple." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 40033. 



