JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1923 



19 



56445. Hydnocarptjs alpina Wight. 

 Flacourtiacese. 



From Orleans, France. Seeds presented by 

 Edmond Versin, St. Jean le Blanc. Re- 

 ceived January 18, 1923. 



Introduced for study because of its close relation- 

 ship to Taraktogenos kurzii, the source of the genuine 

 chaulmoogra oil. 



A large tree 70 to 100 feet in height, with very 

 variable leaves (red when young and deep green 

 when old), up to 7 inches in length and 2y 2 inches in 

 width, and dioecious flowers in axillary racemes. 

 The fruit is globose, about the size of an apple, with 

 a brown hairy surface. The seeds yield an oil which 

 is used as fuel, and the wood is employed for general 

 carpentry. The tree is native to the Nilghiri Hills 

 in southern India. (Adapted from Watt, Diction- 

 ary of the Economic Products of India, vol. 4, p. 808, 

 and Hooker, Flora of British India, vol. 1, p. 197.) 



56446 to 56449. 



From Cuenca, Ecuador. Seeds presented by 

 Dr. Federico Malo. Received February 9, 

 1923. Quoted notes by Doctor Malo. 



56446. Medicago sativa L. Fabaceae. Alfalfa. 



"(Guanando, Province of Chimborazo. 

 November, 1922.) A celebrated variety." 



56447 to 56449. Zea mays L. Poaceae. Corn. 



56447. "(Vicinity of Valle, Province of 

 Azuay.) Maiz bianco, the largest and 

 best variety of this region." 



56448. "Maiz jesuita. A variety of the 

 quality of Maiz bianco, but with pink 

 kernels. From this the natives make 

 'mote,' the best one of their favorite 

 dishes." 



56449. " (Azogues, Province of Canar, and 

 Province of Azuay. December, 1922.) 

 Maiz zhima, a very resistant variety 

 with pearl-colored kernels." 



56450 and 56451. 



From Elstree, Herts, England. Seed pre- 

 sented by Vicary Gibbs, Aldenham House 

 Gardens. Received February 8, 1923. 



56450. Cotoneaster frigida Wall. Mala- 



Variety vicarii. This is an improved form 

 with deep-green leaves, grayish beneath, and 

 large clusters of rich-red berries which are 

 larger and brighter than those of the typical 

 species. 



56451. Pyra.cantha gibbsh A. Jackson. 

 Malacese. Firethorn. 



A fine ornamental evergreen bush, vigorous 

 and hardy, native to Hupeh and Szechwan, 

 China. It becomes 12 to 14 feet high, is nearly 

 spineless, and in the autumn bears large 

 clusters of scarlet berries which contrast ad- 

 mirably with the glossy dark-green foliage. 



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

 52938. 



56452. Cassia brewsteri F. Muell. 

 Csesalpiniacese. 



From Brisbane, Queensland. Seeds presented 

 by E. W. Bick, curator, Brisbane Botanic 

 Gardens. Received February 14, 1923. 



A shrub or small tree found in hilly pastures and 

 on river banks in northern Queensland. It becomes 

 30 or 40 feet high and bears yellow flowers in axil- 

 lary clusters 3 to 6 inches long. The thick pods are 

 often a foot in length. The pale-yellow close- 

 grained wood is prettily marked. (Adapted from 

 Bailey, Queensland Flora, pt. 2, p. 455.) 



56453 to 56456. Acer spp. 

 cese. 



Acera- 

 Maple. 



From Darjiling, India. Seeds presented by 

 G. H. Cave, curator, Lloyd Botanic Gardens. 

 Received January 8, 1923. 



58453. Acer caudatum Wall. 



A large tree with dark-gray bark and 5- 

 lobed red-stemmed leaves 2y 2 to 5 inches long. 

 The shiny, compact, moderately hard wood is 

 white with a faint pink tinge. This maple is 

 found in the temperate Himalayas at altitudes 

 of 7,000 to 11,000 feet. 



56454. Acer hookeri Miquel. 



A tree 40 to 50 feet high with deeply fissured 

 brown bark, native to the Sikkim Himalayas 

 at altitudes of 8,000 to 10,000 feet. The oval 

 leaves are not lobed and, though usually 

 green, are sometimes copper colored. The 

 wood is gray, with small pores and very 

 numerous fine red medullary rays. 



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

 47630. 



56455 . Acer pectinatum W all. 



A small maple closely related to Acer 

 caudatum, from which it differs chiefly in 

 foliage characters. It is common in the Sik- 

 kim Himalayas at altitudes of 8,000 to 12,000 

 feet. 



56456. Acer sikkjmense Miquel. 



A small tree with thin gray bark, native to 

 the eastern temperate Himalayas at altitudes 

 of 7,000 to 9,000 feet. The leaves are undivided 

 and up to 6 inches in length. The wood is a 

 shining gray with distinct annual rings, with 

 numerous fine medullary rays. 



56457. Dendrocalamus sikkimensis 

 Gamble. Poacese. Bamboo. 



From Sibpur, Calcutta, India. Seeds obtained 

 from the Royal Botanic Garden, Sibpur, and 

 presented by E. M. Ehrhorn, Division of 

 Plant Inspection, Honolulu, Hawaii. Re- 

 ceived January 17, 1923. 

 A beautiful tufted bamboo native to Sikkim, 

 India, where the dark-green culms reach a height of 

 60 feet or more and a diameter of 5 to 7 inches. The 

 species is easily distinguished by its large reddish 

 brown, globular flower heads and densely velvety 

 stem sheath. The long narrow leaves are said to be 

 poisonous, and from the stems are made the ' 'chun- 

 gas,' ' or native buckets, used for carrying water and 

 milk and for churning. (Adapted from Annals of 

 the Royal Botanic Garden, vol. 7, p. 82.) 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 55815. 



56458. Trifolitjm johnstoni Oliver. 

 Fabacese. Clover. 



From Kilossa, Tanganyika Territory, East 

 Africa. Seeds presented by Capt. Charles 

 M. F. Swynnerton, Kilossa, through Dr. 

 H. L. Shantz, Bureau of Plant Industry. 

 Received January 17, 1923. 



"At high altitudes in East Africa clover is one of 

 the prominent forage plants. It grows where the 

 temperature probably never exceeds 85° F. and 

 where for the greater part of the year it is much be- 

 low this point. However, no frosts occur in the 

 region." (Shantz.) 



A smooth perennial clover with the habit of white 

 clover (Trifolium repens), found at an altitude of 

 10,000 feet on Kilimanjaro, Tanganyika Territory. 

 The leaves are long stemmed, with membranous 

 leaflets and globose flower heads about an inch in 

 diameter. (Adapted from Transactions of the Lin- 

 nean Society, 2d ser., vol. 2, p. 881.) 



