JANUARY 1 TO MARCH 31, 1924 



13 



A tall climber with ovoid, orange fruits, about 6 

 inches long. The numerous round, flat seeds are 

 said to be rich in oil. (Piper.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 58554. 



58584. Musa sp. Musaceae. 



From Nice, France. Seeds presented by Dr. A.Rob- 

 ertson Proschowsky. Received January 11, 1924, 



A large number of the Musas are handsome orna- 

 mentals and are extensively cultivated in the warmer 

 parts of the world for their gorgeous tropical effect. 

 This unidentified species will be given a trial in the 

 southernmost part of Florida. 



58585 and 58586. 



From Richmond. Victoria, Australia. Seeds pre- 

 sented by F. H. Baker. Received January 12, 

 1924. 



58585. Acacia JONEsnMuell. and Maiden. Mim- 

 osacese. 



A very handsome little shrub, native only to a 

 small district of New South Wales, where it 

 reaches a height of 2 to 3 feet, with a stem about 

 three-fourths of an inch in diameter. The fine-cut 

 foliage is a deep green, and the flower headiets are 

 in simple racemes. (Adapted from Proceedings of 

 the Linnean Society of New South Wales, vol. 8, 

 ser. 2, p. 13.) 



Indigofera AUSTEALis Willd. Fabacea3. 



An erect branching shrub 2 to 4 feet high, with 

 very attractive compound leaves and dense or 

 loose clusters of showy red flowers. It is very 

 variable in regard to habit and foliage, and in its 

 various forms is found almost throughout Aus- 

 tralia, except in the Northern Territory. (Adapt- 

 ed from Bentham, Flora Australiensis , vol. 2, p. 199.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 56575. 



58587. Ficus mysorensis Heyne. Mo- 

 racese. 



From Lai Bagh, Bangalore, India. Seeds presented 

 by G. H. Erumbiegel, superintendent, Govern- 

 ment Botanic Gardens. Received January 15, 

 1924. 



A large, broadly spreading tree, native to the 

 forests of the subtropical Himalayas from Sikkim 

 eastward. The aerial roots are few, embracing the 

 trunk, and the ovate, leathery leaves, which are 

 prominently veined, are up to 8 inches in length. 

 (Adapted from Hooker, Flora of British India, vol. 5, 

 p. 500.) 



58588. TlTHONIA DIVERSIFOLIA 



(Hemsl.) A. Gray. Asteraceae. 



From Manila, Philippine Islands. Seeds presented 

 by P. J. Wester, Bureau of Agriculture. Received 

 January 15, 1924. 



I have just seen this perennial composite at its 

 best, and it far surpasses my expectations as an orna- 

 mental. Clumps of it are a blazing mass of yellow, 

 and the flowers often reach a width of 4 inches. 

 These are produced in great abundance during the 

 autumn and early winter months, and the plant 

 therefore might be a good ornamental for Florida 

 during the early winter season. ( Wester.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 57093. 



58589. Garcinia morella (Gaertn.) 

 Desr. Clusiacese. 



From Dominica, British West Indies. Seeds pre- 

 sented by Joseph Jones, curator, botanic gardens. 

 Received January 17, 1924. 



In connection with the department's effort to 

 establish mangosteen culture in the tropical Ameri- 

 can dependencies of the United States, several spe- 

 cies of Garcinia have been tested as stock plants. 

 The mangosteen, when grown on its own roots, is 

 a delicate subject indeed, and it has been thought 



grafting on more vigorous species might solve one 

 of the difficulties in the way of its culture. Garcinia 

 morella has shown promise as a stock plant, and the 

 seeds under this number will be used to produce 

 plants for further experimentation. 



58590. Funtumia elastica (Preuss) 

 Stapf. Apocynacese. 



Lagos rubber tree. 



From Kisantu, Belgian Congo. Seeds presented 

 by Frere J. Gillet. Received January 17, 1924. 



The Lagos rubber tree is the most important 

 source of rubber native to West Africa and is dis- 

 tributed throughout western tropical Africa from 

 Sierra Leone to Cameroon, and also in British 

 East Africa. 



Introduced for rubber specialists. 



58591. Landolphia droogmansiana 

 Wildem. Apocynacese. 



From Kisantu, Belgian Congo. Seeds presented 

 by Frere J. Gillet. Received January 18, 1924. 



A giant creeper from the Belgian Congo which 

 becomes over 300 feet in length, with a stem about 

 8 inches in diameter. The leathery, oblong- 

 rounded leaves are about 5 inches long. This 

 species yields an excellent rubber-producing latpv 

 (Adapted from Wildeman and Gentil, Lianes Caout 

 choutiferes du Congo, p. 59.) 



Introduced for testing by rubber specialists. 



58592. Hydnocarpus anthelminth- 

 ica Pierre. Flacourtiacese. 



From Bangkok, Si am. Seeds presented by Dr. A. 

 F. G. Kerr, director, botanical section, Ministry 

 of Commerce. Received January 18, 1924. 



The maikrabao, as this species is called in Siam, 

 where it is native, is a vigorous, graceful tree 30 to 

 60 feet in height, with large leathery leaves up to a 

 foot in length, pale yellowish above and shining 

 green below. The rose-colored or purplish flowers 

 are in few-flowered racemes, and the large, round 

 fruits, about 3 inches in diameter, contain each 

 about 80 oval seeds from which a fatty oil is ex- 

 pressed. In its physical characteristics and chem- 

 ical composition this oil closely resembles chaul- 

 moogra oil, which is used with great success in the 

 treatment of leprosy. Like the true chaulmoogra 

 oil (obtained from Taraktcgenos kurzii King) this 

 consists to a large extent of the glyceryl esters of 

 chaulmoogric and hydnocarpic acids, and it may 

 therefore be inferred that it possesses similar medici- 

 nal value. 



Young trees of this species are doing well in 

 Hawaii. The plant is likely to prove of value in 

 that region as well as in tropical America. 



58593. Markhamia sp. Bignoniacese. 



From Umtali, Rhodesia, South Africa. Seeds pre - 



sented by Rev. E. H. Greely. Received January 



23, 1924. 



A native Rhodesian tree with yellow flowers 2 

 inches across. It resembles the central African 

 species of Spathodea. (Greely.) 



This is a genus of handsome tropical evergreen 

 trees or shrubs, with large panicles of flowers which 

 are usually yellow. 



58594. Vallaris heynei Spreng. 

 Apocynacese. 



From Allahabad, India. Seeds presented by 

 W. B. Hayes, horticulturist, Allahabad Agri- 

 cultural Institute. Received January 22, 1924. 

 A climbing shrub with fragrant, white flowers 

 three-fourths of an inch wide, often cultivated as 

 an ornamental in India, where it is native. It has 

 milky juice which is used medicinally in its native 

 country. The plant is introduced for the use of 

 specialists engaged in rubber investigations. 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 53592. 



