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GLEDITSIA SINENSIS. Soap bean. From China. Leguminous 
tree to 40 feet in height.  Leaves 5 to 7 inches long, 8 to 18
foliolate, yellowish green, dull above.  Pods contain saponin, used
by Chinese for soap to wash hair and certain fabrics. Tree forms
beautiful well-rounded heads.  Strongly drought and somewhat
alkali resistant.  An ornamental shade or park tree for mild-wintered
semiarid regions.

41652. HIBISCUS BIFURCATUS. Mallow. From H. M.
Curran, Bahia, Brazil. A climbing shrub (or almost a vine) found in
clearings along river banks where its great masses of showy pink
flowers render it very attractive. Climbs 15 to 20 feet and the slender 
branches may be trained over porches or arbors. Very profuse
and continual bloomer.

42832. HIBISCUS LUNARIFOLIUS. Mallow. Presented by
the director, Department of Colonization, Asmara, Eritrea, Africa.
An undershrub with roundish or sometimes slightly 3 to 5 lobed
long-stalked leaves and terminal flower clusters of large yellow flow-
ers 2 to 3 inches across.  Related to the ''swamp mallows" (Hibiscus 
spp.).  Possibly of value as an ornamental in the South.

HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA. Roselle or Jamaica sorrel.
Biennial, 3 to 5 feet high, commonly cultivated in warm countries.
Produces an abundance of large, bright-red calyces in autumn.
These, as well as the young leaves, by many are considered superior
to cranberries for sauce and jelly making. Very ornamental when
in bloom and in fruit. Sensitive to frost.

HOMOIOCELTIS ASPERA. A Japanese ornamental tree, up to
60 feet high, having the appearance of a hackberry (Celtis spp.),
with the slender branches forming a dense head, rather inconspicuous,
greenish flowers and small black drupes. Cultivated for its foliage
and sometimes planted as a shade tree. Not hardy north of Georgia.

HOVENIA DULCIS. Raisin tree. A deciduous, ornamental
tree, 40 to 60 feet high, with attractive, dark-green foliage, native of
China. Fruits about the size of a small pea are seated on the ends
of fleshy fruit stalks, which are extremely sweet, resembling raisins
in flavor.  They are used in wine making in Algeria and in China
are eaten after a feast to counteract the effects of alcohol.

38565. HYMENAEA COURBARIL. From O. F. Cook, Guatemala 
City, Guatemala. Handsome tree with curious compound
leaves consisting of two leaflets.  Similar to Bauhinia but leaflets not
united.  The thick woody shells of the large pods contain a resin
said to be used in the manufacture of varnish.  Seeds packed in a
thick layer of grayish powdery substance tasting like licorice root,
commonly eaten and often sold in the markets.
        