APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1923 



19 



57260 and 57261. 



From Ceylon, India. Seeds presented by the 

 Governor of Ceylon, through Frank B. Noyes, 

 Washington, D. C. Received June 11, 1923. 



57260. EXACUM ZEYLANICUM MACRANTHUM 



(Arnott) C. B. Clarke. Gentianacese. 



An erect, slightly branched annual from the 

 mountains of Ceylon, where it grows at an 

 altitude of 6,000 feet. The stem, over a foot 

 in height, is copiously leafy below and bears 

 a terminal cluster of large handsome flowers. 

 The latter have deep, rich-purple petals and 

 showy bright-orange stamens. (Adapted 

 from Curtis' s Botanical Magazine, pi. 4771 .) 



57261. Osbeckia rubicunda Arnott. Melas- 

 tomaceae. 



A branched shrub, 4 to 6 feet in height, with 

 hairy elliptic leaves about 2 inches long and 

 brilliant purplish crimson flowers borne in 

 clusters of one to five. Native to Ceylon. 

 (Adapted from Macmillan, Handbook of Trop- 

 ical Gardening, p. 393, and from Hooker, Flora 

 of British India, vol. 2, p. 520.) 



57262 and 57263. Ceratonia siliqua 

 L. Caesalpiniacese. Carob. 



From Faro, Portugal. Budwood presented by 

 Antonio Barreto Martins Terra Boa. Re- 

 ceived June 11, 1923. 



Sent in response to a request for cuttings of the 

 best carob varieties cultivated in Portugal. 



57262. V. II. Pagena 500. 57263. Mulata. 



57264 to 57266. Protea spp. Pro- 

 teacese. 



From Eirstenbosch, Cape of Good Hope, South 

 Africa. Seeds presented by Prof. R. H. 

 Compton, director, National Botanic Gar- 

 dens. Received June 20, 1923. 



57264. Protea lanceolata E. Mey. 



"A very attractive shrub with light-yellow 

 flowers and pale yellowish green foliage, not 

 as striking as some of the other Proteas when 

 in flower, but of decided value as a decorative 

 plant. The habit and requirements are the 

 same as those of the other Proteas." (Dr. 

 H. L. Shantz.) 



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

 48182. 



57265. Protea latifolia R. Br. 



"A wonderful Protea, with flowers 4 inches 

 across. The Cape region is noted for its beau- 

 tiful flowers, and of these none are more pop- 

 ular than the large flowers of the Proteas. 

 The shrubs are from 2 to 6 feet high and bear 

 a large flower on the tip of almost every 

 branch. Seeds only are sent, but these are 

 said to grow easily, and it will be possible to 

 test the seedlings on several types of soil. 

 Acid, or at least humus, soils should be tried 

 in Florida and California." (Dr. H. L. 

 Shantz.) 



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

 48183. 



57268. Protea rosacea L. 



An attractive small shrub about 6 inches 

 bigh, with numerous gracefully curved 

 branches, needlelike leaves nearly an inch 

 long, and sessile flower heads a little more 

 than an inch in diameter, with bracts varying 

 in color from bright rose to crimson. The 

 shrub is native to the Cape of Good Hope, 

 where it grows chiefly in the coastal regions. 

 (Adapted from Thiselton-Dyer, Flora Capen- 

 sis, vol. 5, sec. 1, p. 695.) 



57267. Nageia thtjnbergii (Hook.) 

 F. Muell. (Podocarpus thunbergil 

 Hook.) Taxacese. 



From Hogsback, via Lovedale, Cape of Good 



Hope, South Africa. Seeds presented by 



David A. Hunter. Received June 25, 1923. 



" This tree grows slowly, but finally becomes very 



large. The timber is fine grained and is largely used 



in our shops for furniture." (Hunter.) 



A fine evergreen timber tree, up to 100 feet tall 

 and with a trunk 4 feet in diameter, which occurs 

 throughout all the timber forests from the Cape of 

 Good Hope to Natal. The quality of the wood of 

 this species is very similar to that of Nageia elongata, 

 and for most purposes they are used indiscrimi- 

 nately. 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 56197. 

 57268 and 57269. 



From Burringbar, New South Wales, Australia. 

 Seeds presented by B. Harrison. Received 

 June 22, 1923. 



57268. Alloteropsis semialata (R. Br.) 

 Hitchc. Poacese. . Cockatoo grass. 



"A native grass which becomes 2 to 3 feet 

 high in sandy soil." (Harrison.) 



"Cockatoo grass is excellent pasturage and 

 of good seeding habit. It is leafy at the base." 

 (Roland McKee.) 



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



56786. 



57269. GOMPHOCARPUS PHYSOCARPUS E 



Mey. Asclepiadacese. 



"A tall-growing plant which bears balloon- 

 like pods containing brown seeds furnished 

 with tufts of fine silky cotton." (Harrison.) 



A branched plant 2 or 3 feet high, with 

 opposite, very narrow, sharp-pointed leaves 

 and 6 to 10 flowered umbels of small white 

 flowers. (Adapted from Thiselton-Dyer, Flora 

 of Tropical Africa, vol. 4, sec. 1, p. 328.) 



57270. Eugenia dombeyi (Spreng.) 

 Skeels. (E. brasiliensis Lam.) 

 Myrtacese. Gmmichama. 



From Honolulu, Hawaii. Seeds presented by 

 Willis T. Pope, horticulturist, Agricultural 

 Experiment Station. Received June 30, 1923. 



"The grumichama is found both wild and culti- 

 vated in southern Brazil, particularly in the States 

 of Parana and Santa Catharina. Elsewhere, with 

 the exception of Hawaii, it is scarcely known. 



"The tree, which grows to the same size as the 

 orange, is shapely and attractive in appearance, 

 with ovate-elliptic, glossy, deep-green leaves 2 to 3 

 inches long. The small white flowers are followed 

 by pendent fruits, round or slightly flattened, the 

 size of a cherry, and deep crimson. The persistent 

 green sepals which crown the apex are a distinguish- 

 ing characteristic. The skin is thin and delicate, 

 the soft flesh melting and of a mild subacid flavor 

 suggesting that of a Bigarreau cherry. The seeds 

 are round or hemispherical when one or two in 

 number; sometimes there are three or more, in 

 which case the size is reduced and they are angular. 

 The fruit is usually eaten fresh, but may also be 

 used to make jams and preserves. 



"The grumichama (sometimes grumixama, to 

 conform to old Portuguese orthography) has re- 

 cently been planted in California and Florida. In 

 the latter State it has withstood a temperature of 

 26° F. without injury, which indicates that it is 

 subtropical rather than strictly tropical in char- 

 acter. It prefers a deep sandy loam, but succeeds 

 in Florida on shallow sandy soils. 



"For its value as an ornamental plant as well as 

 for its pleasant fruit, the grumichama deserves culti- 

 vation throughout the Tropics and Subtropics." 

 ( Wilson Popenoe.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P I. No. 55978. 



