INVENTORY. 



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35136. SiCANA ODORiFERA (Veil.) Naudin. Melocoton. 



From Tampico, Mexico. Presented by Mr. Clarence A. Miller, American consul. 

 Received April 2, 1913. 



"Calabaza melon. There is only a small production of this fruit in this district. 

 Excellent preserves are made from this fruit by the residents of this section. " ( Miller.) 



"This large and beautiful cucurbit seems to belong to all the hot regions of South 

 America. It is there regarded almost as an economic plant, and according to Triana 

 is even cultivated in some regions. The traveler Piso, as early as 1658, mentioned 

 its principal uses, among others that which was made and which is still made of the 

 remarkably odorous fruits for perfuming linen and clothing and perhaps for driving 

 away moths. He tells us also that the fruits are edible, but are rarely eaten raw. 

 According to Hasskarl, the Spanish of Peru give it the name Olorero because of its 

 penetrating odor. In another locality in the same country it is known under the 

 name of Sicana, which I have used as a generic name. It is therefore probably 

 cultivated, since three varieties are distinguished under the name Sicana Colorado, 

 S. amarilla, and S. negra, according as the fruit is red. yellow, or greenish black, 

 which would surely not be the case if the plant were left entirely to the wild state. 

 In New Grenada it bears the name of Melocoton, which is that of the peach in Span- 

 ish, without doubt as an allusion to the odor of the fruit, which has been compared 

 to that of the peach. 



"The genus Sicana is very near Cucurbita, to which Velloso and Hasskarl have 

 joined it. In Sicana the anthers are as wide or wider than long, besides they are 

 entirely free, while their filaments are connected, which is precisely the opposite of 

 what one sees in Cucurbita. If to this first difference one adds the peculiar direction 

 of the calyx teeth, which are turned outward even in very young buds, the shortly 

 campanulate form of the corolla, the total absence of the hairs which make all the 

 species of gourds rough to the touch, the pronounced and most unconquerable ten- 

 dency of the stem and branches to grow vertically, and finally the particular arrange- 

 ment of the extremities of the tendrils, which attach themselves like cupping glasses 

 to the most polished solid bodies, to which they adhere with force, one admits with 

 me that Sicana could not be confounded with Cucurbita." (Naudin, Annales des 

 Sciences Naturelles, ser. 4, vol. 18. p. 181-184, 1862.) 



For an illustration of the melonlike fruit of the Mexican melocoton, see Plate I. 



35137. Persea meyeniana Nees. 



From central Chile. Presented by Sr. Salvador Izquierdo, who procured it 

 through Sr. Jose D. Husbands, Lima\dda, Chile. Received March 29, 1913. 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 28636. 



35138. Persea meyeniaxa Nees. 



From central Chile. Presented by Sr. Jose D. Husbands, Limavida, Chile. 

 Received March 31, 1913. 

 "This is a rounder, more compact tree than the Persea lingue, grows in dryer, poorer 

 soils. It is far better as a stock for Persea gratissima. The leaves are dark green on 

 top, with a white, silken finish underneath." {Husbands.) 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 28636. 



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