
          58467. SPATHODEA NILOTICA. From Entebbe, Uganda. Presented by the 
Chief Forestry Officer. Described as a bushy tree reaching about 20 
feet in height with scarlet flowers produced in short, compact, terminal 
clusters. The success which has attended the introduction of 
S. campanulata into southern Florida suggests the desirability of 
testing S. nilotica, which hails from the upper Nile Valley, in the 
same region. It seems likely to prove a valuable addition to the 
list of ornamental trees which flower during winter and early spring. 
There seems no reason for expecting that it will tolerate much frost.

59356. SPONDOGONA SALICIFOLIA. From San Manuel, Oriente, Cuba. 
Presented by Dr. Mario Calvino. A handsome, evergreen, tropical tree, 
native to eastern Cuba where it is called cuya and jocuma blanca. It 
is drought resistant, thrives in calcareous soils, and is a rapid 
grower. For trial as an ornamental tree in southern Florida, Hawaii, 
and other tropical regions.

52379. STACHYS SIEBOLDI. Chinese Artichoke. Received from Vilmorin-
Andrieux & Co., Paris, France. A perennial herbaceous Chinese vegetable 
of which the tubers are eaten like potatoes. This dish has become very 
popular in France since its introduction there, it is served in the best 
restaurants and commands a high price. Prepared by the French method, 
the tubers are cooked for 12 or 15 minutes (if boiled longer they become 
watery) and are served with sauces like broad beans; they may be fried 
or cooked in a variety of ways, or can be used in salads. They make 
excellent pickles in company with onions, peppers, gherkins, etc. The 
tubers are small and numerous and look like a lot of closely strung 
beads. The plant is hardy and is propagated by the tubers. These are 
set out in rows in a rich, loamy, clay soil very early in spring, about 
potato-planting time. They are covered to the depth of 6 or 8 inches in 
hills 16 inches apart. The ground should not be stirred after the first 
of October, so as not to disturb the forming tubers which may be dug in 
November and should be stored in dry soil at a uniform temperature with 
protection from the air to prevent discoloration.

58020. STRYCHNOS GILLETII. From Kisantu, Belgian Congo. Presented by 
Father J. Gillet. A spiny shrub closely related to the Kafir orange 
(S. spinosa), native to the Belgian Congo. The shining, leathery 
leaves are oblong oval, and the round fruit, about 2 inches diameter, 
can be eaten. The plant is of slow growth, and is suitable for cultivation 
in botanic gardens and plant collections in southern Florida, the West 
Indies, and the Tropics generally.

58032. STRYCHNOS SUBEROSA. From Kisantu, Belgian Congo. Presented by  Father Gillet. This is a spiny shrub or small tree, similar in 
appearance to S. gilletii. It has dull-green, leathery, oval leaves, 
and yields an edible fruit. Since strychnine occurs in, the seeds of 
several members of this genus, they should be handled with care. The 
pulp surrounding the seeds is usually harmless; this is true even of 
the species from which strychnine is obtained commercially. It seems 
probable that S. suberosa will not resist heavy frosts. It should 
therefore be tested in southern Florida, and in tropical America generally.

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