16 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED 



33342 to 33345. Eubus spp. 



From Uiakamami. India. Presented by Mr. F. H. Butcher, Curator, Govern- 

 ment Botanic Gardens. Received April 8, 1912. 

 Seeds of the following: 



33342. RrBUS ellipticus Smith. 



33343. RuBus moluccanus L. 



33344. RuBUS lasiocarpus Smith. Raspberry. 



33345. RuBUS racemosus Roxb. 



Distribution— A shrubby Rubus with large red flowers, found on the Nilgiri 

 and Pulney Mountains in India. 



33346. (Undetermined.) Palm. 

 From Boca Tres Amigos, Costa Rica. Presented by Mr. W. W. Gould. Received 



April 8, 1912. 



*'A palm known locally as Maquenge. It sends up a tall shaft with rather few 

 leaves at the top, which at a distance bear some resemblance to a windmill. The shell 

 of the mature trunk is about 2 inches thick and the wood is very hard and jet black. 

 \Vhen polished, it makes a very excellent wood for plane stocks. It is especially valu- 

 able for joiner planes. It slips better than steel, is nearly as heavy, and takes on a 

 very glossy polish. The only objection to it is that it splits very easily. 



" It is used locally to make inclosures for native houses. The body of the trunk is 

 split into strips about 4 inches wide, the fibrous pulp is stripped away from the inner 

 surface, and the strips are placed vertically side by side to keep out wind and rain. 



" The nuts, I think, could be used as a substitute for the Yankee's wooden nutmegs." 

 {Gould.) 



33347. RoscHERiA melanochaetes Wendl. Palm. 



From Port Louis, Mauritius. Presented by Mr. G. Regnard. Received April 8, 

 1912. 



" A palm 15 to 25 feet high with many aerial roots and a stem 2 to 3 inches in diameter 

 with a ring of young spines when young below each leaf scar. Very ornamental and 

 becoming scarce." (Regnard.) 



Distribution. — In shaded forests at an elevation of 1,000 feet in the Seychelles. 



33348. Leucaena glauca (L.) Benth. 



From Port Louis, Mauritius. Presented by Mr. G. Regnard. Received April 8, 

 1912. 



"A ver\'- interesting shrub common in Mauritius, leaves and seeds used as fodder 

 for cattle, the seeds being boiled and crushed for that purpose." (Regnard.) 



33349. Mentha piperita L. Peppermint. 



From Japan. Purchased from the Yokohama Nursery Co. Received April 6, 

 1912. 



Procured for the experiments being carried on by the Office of Drug-Plant, Poison- 

 ous-Plant, and Physiological Investigations. 



33350. DioscoREA sp. Yam. 



From Guatemala. Presented by Mrs. Lucie Potts, Livingston. Received April 

 5, 1912. 



"This is called the 'potato of the air' (papa del aigre). The natives say it was the 

 original potato. It grows on a vine, is produced above ground, and when boiled tastes 

 very much like a potato." (Potts.) 



