JANUARY 1 TO MAECH 31, 1925 



37 



62897 to 62920— Continued. 



62912. Millettia mannii Baker. Faba- 

 ceae. 



A tropical African relative of the wis- 

 teria, which is described by Baker (Flora 

 of Tropical Africa, vol. 1) as a shrub or 

 small tree with compound leaves about 9 

 inches long with 15 or more pale-green 

 leaflets. The reddish flowers appear in 

 long-stalked, slightly compound panicles 

 about as long as the leaves. 



62913. Ourouparia gambir (Hunter) 

 Baill. ( Uncaria gambir Roxb.). Rubia- 

 ceae. 



A climbing shrub or bush which is 

 found wild or cultivated throughout the 

 Malay Archipelago and the East Indies. 

 From the leaves is obtained the extract 

 known as gambir, which is highly valued 

 for tanning purposes ; it is said to im- 

 part a softness to leather not obtainable 

 from other tanning agents. 



62914. Paspalum scrobiculatum com- 

 mersonii (Lam.) Stapf. Poaceae. 



Grass. 



This is regarded as a fodder grass of 

 some value in parts of tropical Africa, 

 according to Stapf (Flora of Tropical 

 Africa, vol. 9, pt. 3). It is perennial, 1 

 to 2 feet or more in height, and usually 

 scantily tufted from a short rhizome. 

 The simple or sparingly branched culms 

 are erect or ascending. 



62915. Pennisetum benthami Steud. 

 Poaceae. Grass. 



A tropical African perennial grass, 

 used as fodder in Rhodesia and Uganda, 

 according to Holland (Useful Plants of 

 Nigeria, p. 842). 



62916. Pentaclethra macrophylla 

 Benth. Mimosaceae. 



A large, handsome tree, belonging to 

 the Mimosa family, which appears of 

 promise as a shade tree for the more 

 tropical portions of the United States. 

 According to Holland (Useful Plants of 

 Nigeria, pt. 2), in tropical Africa, where 

 the tree is native, the oily seeds are used 

 as food by the natives, and the hard, 

 durable wood is excellent for cabinet- 

 work. 



62917. PlPTADENIA AFRICANA Hook. f. 



Mimosaceae. 



A wide-spreading tree, 15 to 20 feet 

 high, with finely pinnate leaves 6 inches 

 or more long, small spikes of whitish 

 flowers which appear before the leaves, 

 and straight, flat pods about a foot in 

 length. Native to tropical Africa. 



62918. Tetrapleura tetraptera (Schum.) 

 Taub. (T. thonningii Benth.). Mimosa- 

 ceae. 



A tall, unarmed tree, described by 

 Oliver (Flora of Tropical Africa) as hav- 

 ing alternate compound leaves with 

 leathery leaflets and small leaves with 

 spikelike clusters. According to Holland 

 (Useful Plants of Nigeria, pt. 2), the 

 pods are roasted and ground to make a 

 " black soup," a common native dish in 

 parts of tropical Africa. The soft pulp 

 of these pods contains sugar, tannin, and 

 a small quantity of saponin. The pres- 

 ence of saponin enables the natives to 

 use the pods for washing purposes also. 



62897 to 62920— Continued. 



62919. Triumfetta semitriloba Jacq. 

 Tiliaceae. 



Variety tomentosa. A bushy, herba- 

 ceous, hairy plant widely distributed in 

 the Tropics, with bright-yellow flowers 

 produced in long leafy racemes. 



62920. Urena lobata L. Malvaceae. 



Variety reticulata. An erect, shrubby, 

 hairy, herbaceous plant, widely distrib- 

 uted throughout the Tropics, which is 

 valued in India and also in parts of 

 tropical Africa t for the fiber obtained 

 from the bark. 'This fiber is suitable for 

 the manufacture of bags and twine and 

 is regarded as a good substitute for jute, 

 according to Holland (Useful Plants of 

 Nigeria, pt. 1). 



62921 and 62922. 



From Paris, France. Seeds purchased from 

 Vilmorin-Andrieux & Co., through David 

 Fairchild, agricultural explorer, Bureau 

 of Plant Industry. Received March 19, 

 1925. Notes by Doctor Fairchild. 



62921. Ampelopsis watsoniana Wilson. 

 Vitaceae. 



A Chinese species, introduced in 1908, 

 " with large, 3-parted leaves, of an attrac- 

 tive green, and bunches of red fruits 

 which become black. The flowers appear 

 during July. This should be an attrac- 

 tive vine for walls. 



62922. Decaisnea fargesii Franch. Lar- 

 dizabalaceae. 



One of the Vilmorin introductions 

 from China, 1895, which is not very 

 hardy here. This handsome shrub is dis- 

 tinguished by beautiful foliage in the 

 summer and curious blue fruits, the size 

 of one's finger, in the autumn. 



62923 to 62934. Oryza sativa L. Poa- 

 ceae. Rice. 



From Tottori, Japan. Seeds presented by 

 Prof. Akio Kikuchi, Tottori Agricultural 

 College. Received March 18, 1925. 



Locally developed varieties. 



62923. No. 1. Wase Shinriki No. 7. 



62924. No. 2. Wase Shinriki. 



62925. No. 3. Oshiu. 



62926. No. 4. Wase Kitabu. 



62927. No. 5. Goriki No. 7. 



62928. No. 6. Fukuyama No. 7. 



62929. No. 7. Imogatna No. 2. 



62930. No. 8. Marygama No. 1. 



62931. No. 9. Hayaoseki No. 1. 



62932. No. 10. Hayaoseki No. 3. 



62933. No. 11. Akagemochi. 



62934. No. 12. Shimofruimochi. 



62935. Helianthtjs tuberosus L. As- 

 teraeeae. Jerusalem artichoke. 



From London, England. Tubers purchased 

 from James Carter & Co. Received March 

 27, 1925. 



Red-skinned artichoke. An English va- 

 riety. 



