INVENTORY 1 



66699. Durio 

 Bombacaceae. 



zibethinus Murr. 

 Durian. 



From Java. Seeds obtained by David Fairchild, 

 agricultural explorer, Bureau of Plant Industry, 

 with the Allison V. Armour expedition. Re- 

 ceived June 28, 1926. 



No. 787. Seeds from a durian obtained at the 

 market in Soerabaya, May 17, 1926. According to 

 Macmillan (Handbook of Tropical Gardening and 

 Planting), this is a very large, handsome pyramid- 

 shaped tree, native to the Malay Archipelago, and 

 commonly cultivated [in the Straits Settlements, 

 Burma, Java, etc.], for the sake of its celebrated 

 fruit. The latter, produced on the older branches, 

 varies somewhat from round to oval in shape, and 

 usually weighs from 5 to 7 pounds, though some- 

 times as much as. 10 pounds. It is armed with 

 thickly set formidable prickles about one-half inch 

 long; when ripe it becomes slightly yellow and 

 has an offensive odor. The cream-colored pulp 

 surrounds the seed in the edible portion; this is 

 most highly prized by the Malays and other ori- 

 ental races and is also relished by the Europeans 

 who acquire a-taste for it. -The large seeds may be 

 roasted and eaten like chestnuts. Durian fruits 

 are variable in size, shape, flavor, and quantity of 

 pulp, according to variety. The trees also vary in 

 productiveness, some varieties being almost barren. 

 Selection and high cultivation should therefore be 

 practiced, in order to obtain the best fruits. The 

 tree is readily propagated by seed if sown fresh. 

 The large fleshy seed is of short vitality and germi- 

 nates in seven to eight days. 



For previous introduction see No. 45179. 



66700 and 66701. Medicago sativa 

 L. Fabaceae. Alfalfa. 



From Sable, Sarthe, France. Seeds obtained from 

 A. Coutard, through H. L. Westover, Bureau 

 of Plant Industry. Received April 1, 1926. 



French-grown varieties. 



66700. From Provence. 



66701. From Sarthe. 



66702. Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck 

 (C decumana Murr.). Rutaceae. 



Grapefruit. 



From Los Banos, Philippine Islands. Seeds pre- 

 sented by J. D. Bagarino, through W. T. 

 Swingle, Bureau of Plant Industry. Received 

 April 1, 1926. 



A Philippine variety. 



66703. Lilium sp. Liliaceae. Lily. 



From Canton, China. Bulbs collected by F. A. 

 McClure, agricultural explorer, Bureau of Plant 

 Industry. Received April 2, 1926. 



No. 343. These bulbs were obtained from the 

 wild at the foot of the Lungtaushan, January 9, 

 1926. Paak hop fa. The white flowers are borne 

 on stems 1 to 1.5 meters high. 



66704. Paspalum notatum Fluegge* 

 Poaceae. Grass. 



From San Jose, Costa Rica, Seeds purchased from 

 J. Alfredo Quiros. Received April 6, 1926. 



A perennial grass which has shown promise as a 

 pasture grass in the southern United States; now 

 introduced for further testing in that region. 



For previous introduction see No. 62049. 



66705. Salpichroa rhomboidea (Gill, 

 and Hook.) Miers. Solanaceae. 



From Buenos Aires, Argentina. Seeds presented 

 by Dr. Carlos L. Thays, director, botanic garden. 

 Received April 3, 1926. 



An ornamental relative of the tomato, with 

 white flowers and edible white transparent berries 

 which resemble the pineapple in flavor. Because 

 of its attractive appearance and creeping habit it 

 is very effective for trellises and arbors. Native to 

 Argentina. 



For previous introduction see No. 55478. 



1 It should be understood that the names of horticultural varieties of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and 

 other plants used in this inventory are those under which the material was received when introduced by 

 the Office of Foreign Plant Introduction, and, further, that the printing of such names here does not con- 

 stitute their official publication and adoption in this country. As the different varieties are studied, their 

 entrance into the American trade forecast, and the use of varietal names for them in American literature 

 becomes necessary, the foreign varietal designations appearing in this inventory will be subject to change 

 with a view to bringing the forms of the names into harmony with recognized horticultural nomenclature. 



It is a well-known fact that botanical descriptions, both technical and economic, seldom mention the 

 seeds at all and rarely describe them in such a way as to make possible identification from the seeds alone. 

 Many of the unusual plants listed in these inventories are appearing in this country for the first time, and 

 there are no seed samples or herbarium specimens with ripe seeds with which the new arrivals may be 

 compared. The only identification possible is to see that the sample received resembles seeds of other 

 species of the same genus or of related genera. The responsibility for the specific identifications therefore 

 must necessarily often rest with the person sending the material. If there is any question regarding the 

 correctness of the identification of any plant received from this office, herbarium specimens of leaves and 

 flowers should be sent in so that definite identification can be made. 



