OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1912. 



25 



34493. CuDRANiA TRICUSPID ATA (Can.) Bureau. Che. 



{Madura tricuspidata Can.) 

 From Augusta, Ga. Seciu-ed by Mr. Peter Biaset, of the Office of Foreign Seed 

 and Plant Introduction, from P. J. Berckman's Co. Received November 11, 

 1912. 



•These fruits are from one of Mr. Wilson's introductions; an edible fruit, allied to 

 the Madura {Toxylon pomiferum), or Osage orange." (Bisset.) 



'Apparently this fruit will thrive down South, and it is, as you say, both interesting 

 and beautiful. In China it occurs throughout the Yangtze Valley, from river level 

 to 3,000 feet altitude. It varies from a small, much-branched, thorny bush to a tree 

 40 to 50 feet high. The fruits are eaten by the Chinese, but are not much esteemed. 

 In Szechwan the leaves are used for feeding young silkworms, it being claimed that 

 worms thus fed produce a superior kind of silk to those fed upon mulberry leaves 

 alone. The plant is exceedingly common and by no means new, but I believe with 

 you that there is a future for it in this countrj^ as a hedge plant or ornamental tr^, 

 if nothing else." {E. H. Wilson.) 



Distribution. — The provinces of Shantung, Kiangsu, Chekiang, Kiangsi, Hupeh, 

 and Kwangtung; and in the islands of the Korean Archipelago. 



34494 to 34496. 



From Singapore, Straits Settlements. Presented by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Alta- 

 dena, Cal. Received November 8, 1912. 

 Quoted notes by ^Ir. Popenoe, except as indicated: 



34494. Xephelium lappaceum L. Rambutan. 



"The rambutan is one of the commonest and at the same time most pala- 

 table fruits of the Malay Peninsula. Trees are to be seen in almost every 

 garden in both Singapore and Penang, and in its season the fruit is hawked 

 everywhere in the streets. The tree grows to a height of about 40 feet, and 

 when in fruit is a handsome sight, the terminal clusters of bright crimson fruits 

 being produced on ever>- branch. The compound leaves are made up of 

 oblong-ovate leaflets, about 4 inches in length and 1^ inches in width. In 

 habit of growth the tree appears to be normally rather round topped and 

 spreading, but as it is frequently planted among numerous other trees it is 

 forced to grow tall and slender, branching only at a considerable height above 

 the ground. 



"According to Mr. J. D' Almeida Pereira, of Singapore, there are eight or ten 

 varieUes of the rambutan, the difference being in form and coloring. The 

 natives, however, do not distinguish between any of these varieties. He 

 considers the 'Atjense^ variety, which he has propagated by grafting, to be the 

 finest, as it is the sweetest in flavor and the pulp does not adhere to the seed 

 as closely as in most varieties. From his description of this form it would 

 appear that it is nothing less than the species Nephelium mutabile, which j 

 although of distinctive appearance from tile rambutan, seems to be considered 

 by all the natives as merely a variety of the latter. Among the varieties of 

 the true rambutan the differences do not seem to be very well marked or of 

 great importance. In appearance a cluster of rambutans, when highly colored, 

 is exceptionally attractive. The best forms attain, when fuUy ripe, a rich crim- 

 son color, while the poorer ones are greenish or yellowish, sometimes a combi- 

 nation of these two and lacking any tinge of crimson. The individual fruits 

 are slightly smaller than a hen's egg, but more elongated in form; they are 

 covered with soft spines alx)ut a half inch in length, and are borne in clusters 

 of varying size, but rarely containing more than 10 or 12 fruits. The pericarp 



