APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1923 



17 



57213. Solanum commersonii Dunal. 

 Solanacese. 



From Montevideo, Uruguay. Tubers pre- 

 sented by Luis Guillot, Direccion General de 

 Paseos Publicos. Received May 31, 1923. 



Introduced for department horticulturists en- 

 gaged in potato breeding. 



A wild relative of the potato which is found native 

 in humid situations in the vicinity of Montevideo, 

 Uruguay. In general appearance the wild plant 

 resembles that of the potato, having dark-green 

 leaves composed of two to four pairs of leaflets, 

 white flowers, small green fruits, and small potato- 

 like tubers with a bitter flavor. Under cultivation 

 in France a lavender-flowered variety developed, 

 with larger tubers which were only slightly bitter 

 and fragrant. It has been thought that this species 

 might be one of the parents of some of the European 

 varieties of the potato. (Adapted from Revue 

 Horticole, vol. 78, p. 803.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 53846. 



57214. Chrysalidocarpus baronii 

 Beccari. Phcenicaceae. Palm. 



From Algiers, Algeria. Seeds presented by 

 Dr. L. Trabut, Government botanist. Re- 

 ceived June 5, 1923. 

 A medium-sized palm, native to central Mada- 

 gascar, with a cylindrical stem about 3 inches in 

 diameter and regularly pinnate leaves about 4 feet 

 long, with very narrow pinnae 16 to 18 inches long. 

 Native name farihazo. (Adapted from Engler, 

 Botanische Jahrbueher, vol. 38, Beiblatt 87, p. 33.) 



57215. Tacsonia sp. Passifloracese. 



From Bogota, Colombia. Seeds presented by 



Brother Ariste Joseph. Received June 5, 



1923. 



"One of the curubas from the region of Bogota, 



where there are several, esteemed both for their 



ornamental value and their fruits, which are usually 



the size of small cucumbers and of sprightly acid 



flavor. Worthy of trial in California and Florida. " 



( Wilson Popenoe.) 



57216. Thunbergia grandiflora 

 Roxb. Acanthacese. 



From St. Clair, Trinidad, British West Indies. 

 Plants presented by R. T. Williams, super- 

 intendent, Royal Botanic Gardens. Re- 

 ceived June 11, 1923. 

 "The typical form of Thunbergia grandiflora is 

 well known in tropical gardens, where it is highly 

 esteemed for its large sky-blue flowers and the orna- 

 mental effect of its foliage. The white form (var. 

 alba) is less widely cultivated, though perhaps as 

 meritorious as the type. It is a strong-growing 

 climber, useful for covering pergolas and fences, 

 and is sufficiently frost resistant for cultivation in 

 the warmer parts of Florida and the most favored 

 sections of southern California." ( Wilson Popenoe.) 



57217. Areca sp. Phcenicaceae. Palm. 



From Manila, Philippine Islands. Seeds pre- 

 sented by P. J. Wester, Bureau of Agricul- 

 ture. Received June 6, 1923. 

 "A very graceful dwarf palm, with a slender trunk 

 a bout 2 inches in diameter , from Palawan . It ought 

 to be a good conservatory plant." ( Wester.) 



57218. Ampelocissus acapulcensis 

 (H. B. K.) Planch. Vitaceae. Grape. 



From Juatusco, Vera Cruz, Mexico. Seeds pre- 

 sented by Dr. C. A. Purpus. Received June 

 27, 1923. 

 "This was collected on very dry, rocky mountain 

 slopes near Jalisco in Chiapas. The vine bore 

 enormous bunches of red grapes and was in flower 

 at the same time. It had no leaves. The fruits 

 were partly ripe at the end of April and in May and 

 I believe would make excellent jelly." (Purpus.) 



56810— 26f 3 



57219. Solanum maglia Schlecht. Sol- 

 anacese. 



From Lima, Peru. Tubers presented by the 

 director, Estacion Central Agronomico. Re- - 

 ceived June 28, 1923. 



A nearly glabrous wild potato, native to Chile, 

 with angled, winged stems about 2 feet high, light- 

 green leaves 4 to 8 inches long, and cymes of white 

 flowers an inch in width. The subglobose or oblong 

 tubers are about \ x /i inches long, with smooth, 

 reddish brown surfaces. When boiled the tubers 

 shrink and become watery and insipid. (Adapted 

 from Curtis's Botanical Magazine, pi. 6756.) 



Introduced for department specialists engaged in 

 potato breeding. 



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

 53445. 



57220. Calydorea speciosa (Hook.) 

 Herbert. Iridacese. 



From Santiago, Chile. Bulbs presented by 

 Dr. Carlos Camacho. Received June 1, 1923. 

 An ornamental bulbous plant about 4 inches high, 

 native to Chile, where it generally prefers the lower 

 altitudes. The flower, about 2 inches wide, is a 

 bright navy blue with a golden center. The bulbs 

 are eaten boiled, roasted, or baked. (Adapted from 

 note of Jose D. Husbands, under S. P. I. No. 30074.) 



57221 and 57222. Agropyron spp. 

 Poaeese. Grass. 



From Ekaterinoslav, Russia. Seeds presented 

 by the Russian Bureau of Applied Botany, 

 through D. Borodin, New York, N. Y. Re- 

 ceived June 14, 1923. Quoted notes by 

 Mr. Borodin. 

 From the Ekaterinoslav Agricultural Experiment 

 Station; introduced for department agrostologists. 



57221. Agropyron elongatum (Host) 

 Beauv. (A. rigidum Beauv.) 



"No. 368. 1920 crop. Originally from Pa- 

 mir." 



57222. Agropyron sibiricum (Willd.) 

 Beauv. 



"No. 819. 1918 crop. Originally from Kras- 

 nikut." 



57223. Crotalaria juncea L. Fa- 

 bacese. Sunn hemp. 



From Calcutta, India. Seeds purchased from 



Messrs. Barnard & Co. Received June 11, 



1923. 



Introduced for testing as a green manure, for 



which purpose it is used in India. It is also used in 



that country as a fiber plant and as a catch crop. 



57224. Artocarptjs communis Forst. 

 Moracese. Breadfruit. 



From Honolulu, Hawaii. Plants presented by 

 Willis T. Pope, horticulturist, Agricultural 

 Experiment Station. Received June 27, 1923. 



"There is but one kind of breadfruit in Hawaii; 

 while there are slight variations, due probably to 

 local conditions, there are no true varietal differ- 

 ences." {Pope.) 



This variety, which now grows wild throughout 

 the Hawaiian Islands, was originally introduced 

 from Tahiti. It has large, rough, ovate, deeply 

 lobed leaves, and the staminate flowers appear in 

 large yellow catkins. The large-stemmed fruit is 

 either round or oblong and varies from 5 to 8 inches 

 in diameter. The thick, tough rind, which is 

 brownish at maturity, incloses a firm, very starchj", 

 and somewhat fibrous pulp, which becomes mealy 

 when cooked, slightly resembling a dry sweetpo- 

 tato, and is much esteemed as an article of diet. 

 The tree is propagated by suckers or by layering. 

 (Adapted from G. P. Wilder, Fruits of the Hawaiian 

 Islands, p. 100, pi. 48, under A. incisa.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 44908. 



