44 



PLANT MATERIAL INTRODUCED 



68867 to 68907— Con tii) ued. 



edible in about 70 days, and the seeds 

 are said to ripen in about 120 days. 

 The whole plant is often preserved 

 with salt and dried. 



68883. Brassica sp. 



No. 558. From a seed store in San- 

 miu, Honam. Kong naam sai miu 

 citing isoi. A variety planted in 

 August, with leaves and roots edible in 

 about 70 days. The roots are largely 

 used after having been pickled in salt, 

 and often the whole plant is preserved 

 in the same way. 



68884. Chloranthus sp. Chloranthaceae. 



No. 522. Chuk chit cha. A wild 

 shrub, promising as an ornamental, found 

 in thickets in northern Kwangtung, at an 

 altitude of about 300 meters. It has a 

 pleasing, clean, green foliage and stems 

 and produces fruits of a striking red 

 color. 



68885 and 68886. Chrysanthemum coro- 

 narium L. Asteraceae. Crown daisy. 



For previous introduction see No. 

 64352. 



68885. No. 529. Tong ho tsoi. The 

 pretty yellow flowers of this plant 

 make it worthy of a place in the 

 flower gardens, although the odor 

 of the plant itself is not altogether 

 pleasing to some. The young plants 

 are cultivated by the Chinese as a 

 vegetable, during the winter months, 

 and are used only when young. They 

 are a favorite ingredient in the native 

 soups. 



No. 559. Taai ip tong ho tsoi. 

 A large-leaved variety said to have 

 come from Chiuchow, Kwangtung. 

 It is planted here in September and 

 October, and the whole plant is eaten 

 when quite young. The common use 

 is as an ingredient in soups. 



68887. Crawfurdia sp. Gentianceae. 



No. 520. A slender twining vine with 

 persistent, ornamental purplish red fruits, 

 collected in the wild near Yeunguk, 

 Lungtau Mountain, northern Kwangtung. 



to 68890. Cucumis melo L. Cu- 

 curbitaceae. Melon. 



No. 531. Heung Jcwa. A na- 

 tive cucurbitaceous fruit very similar 

 in fragrance and flavor to our musk- 

 melon. The rich-yellow, smooth- 

 skinned fruits are oblong and rather 

 small, rarely exceeding 12 or 15 

 centimeters in length. This variety 

 would be a very good addition to our 

 list of kitchen garden melons, as it 

 could be grown on fences or light 

 trellis with very little trouble. 



68889. No. 532. Mat tong ching. A 

 melon somewhat resembling the 

 honeydew melon. It is cylindrical in 

 shape, rarely exceeding 8 inches in 

 length. The skin is covered with 

 a dense, short pubescence while the 

 melons are young, but later it be- 

 comes very smooth and turns pale 

 green. The flesh has an excellent 

 flavor and texture, is light colored, 

 and has a crispness which is akin t<i 

 mealiness. 



No. 562. Cheung shan paak 

 kwa. A locally grown variety ob- 

 tained at a seed store in Sanmiu, 



68867 to 68907— Continued. 



Honam. It is planted from May to 

 July and is said to produce edible 

 fruits in 80 days. It is a long, fleshy, 

 white-skinned cucumberlike vegeta- 

 ble, usually eaten stewed with meat 

 or pickled while the fruits are young. 



68891. DOLICHANDRONE CAUDA- FELINA 



(Ilance) Benth. and Hook. Bisnonia- 

 ceae. 



No. 519. Maau mei shue. A tree of 

 fairly rapid growth on poor soil, which 

 has a pleasing foliage, large yellow pur- 

 ple-throated flowers, and woolly cat-tail- 

 like fruits (from which it takes its native 

 name). Its one bad feature as an orna- 

 mental is the fact that the pods are 

 persistent after the seeds have been shed, 

 giving the tree a somewhat untidy ap- 

 pearance. The wood is of no special 

 value, but the seeds are credited by the 

 Chinese as having therapeutic value in 

 the treatment of venereal diseases. 



68892 and 68893. Lactuca sativa L. Ci- 

 choriacae. Lettuce. 



68892. No. 539. Poh lei shaang tsoi. 

 Obtained at a seed store in Sanmiu, 

 Honam, and said to have originally 

 come from Annam. This is said to 

 be a very delicate and delicious 

 variety. It is planted any time from 

 July to November, sandy clay soil 

 being preferred ; the leaves are edi- 

 ble in about 50 days, and the seeds 

 ripen in about 100 days. 



68893. No. 540. Yau maak shaang tsoi. 

 Obtained at a seed store in Sanmiu, 

 Honam, originally from Chiuchow, 

 Kwangtung. A variety planted in 

 July ; the leaves are edible in about 

 two months, and the seeds are said 

 to ripen in about 120 days. A cen- 

 tral stem rapidly develops, and the 

 leaves, which are quite long, slen- 

 der, and rather coarse, are removed 

 progressively from the lower portion 

 of the stem as fast as they reach 

 their full size. This variety is never 

 eaten raw. 



68894 to 68896. Lagerstroemia indica L. 

 Lythraceae. Crape myrtle. 



68894. No. 523. Tsz shik tsz mei fa. 

 An ornamental purple-flowered shrub 

 cultivated on the campus of the Can- 

 ton Christian College and probably 

 introduced from India. 



68895. No. 524. Taam hung tsz mei fa. 

 An ornamental pink-flowered shrub, 

 probably introduced originally from 

 India, which has been cultivated on 

 the campus of the Canton Christian 

 College. 



68896. No. 525. Hung tsz mei fa. An 

 ornamental red-flowered shrub, prob- 

 ably introduced from India, which 

 has been cultivated on the campus 

 of the Canton Christian College. 



68897. Pisum sativum L. Fabaceae. Pea. 



No. 561. Hoh laan tau. Obtained at 

 a seed store in Sanmiu, Honam, and said 

 to have come from Chiuchow, Kwangtung. 

 A variety usually planted in August. The 

 tender young tips of the vines are used 

 as a vegetable here, as well as the seeds 

 and pods when quite young, and are 

 said to be very sweet and delicious. The 

 Chinese name of this dish is lung so tsoi 

 (dragon's-beard vegetable). 



