20 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



35888. Areca sapida Solander. Nikau palm. 

 {Rhopalostylis sapida Wendl. and Drude.) 



I'rom Kohu Kohu, Hokianj^a, Now Zealand. Presented by Mr. G. J. Clapham, 

 Pul)lic Works Department, Wellington. Received July 18, 1913. 

 "Seeds of the nikau palm, which is quite hardy in this country. " (Clapham.) 



* * A tree sometimes 30 feet in height. Stem ringed , green . Ivcaves 14 feet in length. 

 Spathcs two or three, 12 inches long. Flowering axis white; flowers white. Drupe 

 one-half inch long. Both islands, as far south as Akaroa on the east coast and Dusky 

 Bay on tlie west. 



"This elegant and graceful palm is found usually in thick bush. Any specimen 

 standing alone will have its leaves bruised or broken. The Maoris used the nikau 

 leaves in t he construction of their whares, or native huts. A framework was made of 

 manuka sticks, and the roof and walls composed of palm leaves, wliich formed a cover- 

 ing as water-tight as if built of iron. These leaves keep out the wet in a marvelous 

 manner, even when the thatching is so open that one can see the clouds and stars 

 tlirough the interstices. Every separate leaf division is a little channel, which con- 

 ducts the rain drops to tlie ground outside. Nikau wliares are extremely pretty and 

 picturesque, but are now rarely seen, owing to the unfortunate cheapness of corrugated 

 iron. Bushmen, however, still make them occ^asionally for temporary residences. 



"The top of the stem is fleshy and juicy, and is sometimes eaten. The nikau palm 

 will stand fire almost as well as the cabbage tree. Aft)er a big bush fire most of the trees 

 are killed except the nikau, the cabbage trees, and the fern trees. 



"The flowers are sessile upon a thick, fleshy axis, the whole inflorescence being in- 

 closed when young in a large spathe. The fruit is of a vivid red when ripe, appearing like 

 a huge bunch of coral. The berries are about the size of a large pea and are extremely 

 hard. They have been used by settlers for bird shooting when ammunition was scarce. 

 Though so hard, however, they are much relished by the kakas or wild parrots. These 

 birds, unable to find foothold upon the smooth stem of the palm, hang upside down, 

 with one claw fixed on the base of the leaf, and thus enjoy tlieir meal. 



"The leaf strips are much used by the Maoris for weaving into baskets and kits of 

 every description. 



* * The bark is ringed with cicatrices formed by the falling off of the dead leaves. The 

 base of a fallen leaf, with the fanlike part torn off, makes an excellent basket for carry- 

 ing flowers." {Laing and Blackwell, Plants of New Zealand.) 



35889. IxERiiA BRExroiDES Cunningham. Tawari. 



From Wellington, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. E Clifton, director. Fields 

 and Experimental Farms Division, Department of Agriculture. Received 

 July 17, 1913. 



"A beautiful evergreen tree, sometimes 70 feet in height, with thick, leathery leaves 

 and flat pani(;les of white flowers. Considered by Kirk to be the most beautiful tree in 

 the New Zealand flora." (Laing and Blackwell, Plants of New Zealand.) 



Distribution.— A small tree having a hard, dense wood, found in the forests on the 

 lulls in the North Island of New Zealand up to an elevation of 3,000 feet. 



35890. Raphanus sativus L. Egyptian black radish. 



From Tampa, Fla. Received from Mr. Peter Bisset, of the Bureau of Plant In- 

 dustry, who procured the seed from Dr. W. C. Richardson, Tampa, Fla. Re- 

 ceived July 16, 1913. 



"A large variety, said to be superior in quality to the well-known Japanese Saku- 

 rajima radish. Original seed collected in Egypt by Dr. W. C. Richardson. The plants 

 from which this seed was raised were grown at Dr. Richardson's place in Tampa." 

 (^Bisset.) 



