54 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



36688 to 36715— Continued. 



diameter and bright red in color. The under sides of the leaves and the 

 branches are quite thickly covered whh rather long, sharp thorns. May prove 

 valuable as an ornamental or for breeding." 



36705. Gkevillea banksii R. Brown. 



"(No. 9a. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. October 27, 1913.) In foliage this spe- 

 cies greatly resembles its congener, Grevillea robusta, but its habit of growth is 

 entirely different and its flowers much finer. The trees in the Rio de Janeiro 

 Botanic Garden, from which these seeds were taken, are about 18 feet in height, 

 broad topped, and rather open in growth. The bark is rough, and ashy brown 

 in color. The wood is brittle. The leaves are 6 to 8 inches long, 5 to 6 inches 

 wide, deeply di^dded, dull green on the upper side and silvery beneath. The 

 flowers, which are borne on spikes 3 to 5 inches long, are a beautiful rose-red in 

 color. May prove of value as an ornamental tree in Florida and southern 

 California." 



36706. Helicteres ovata Lamarck. 



"(No. 10a. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. October 27, 1913.) A sterculiaceous 

 shrub growing in the Botanic Garden here, somewhat resembling an abutilon 

 in general appearance. Leaves heart shaped, about 4 inches in breadth and 

 5 inches in length, lanate, bright green in color. The chief interest of this 

 plant lies in its seed pods, which are about the size of almonds and twisted 

 spirally. Should be tried in Florida and California." 



36707. Citrus aurantium L. Bitter orange. 

 "(No. 11a. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. October 29, 1913.) Laranja da terra. 



Seeds of the bitter orange, or laranja da terra, from Shr. Catramby's ranch at 

 Porta d'Agiia. a suburb of Rio de Janeiro. For trial in Florida and California 

 as a stock for other citrus fruits, for which purpose it is used here." 



36708. ScmNus terebinthifolius Raddi. 



"(No. 28a. Bahia, Brazil. November 27, 1913.) Seeds of a handsome 

 tree which grows wild along the roadsides here. It greatly resembles the species 

 grown in California under the name of Schinus terebinthifolius, and may. in fact, 

 prove to be the same thing. The leaves are deep rich green in color, the leaf- 

 lets larger and less numerous than in S. molle. The berries are borne in rather 

 compact clusters and are bright crimson in color. The tree is of different 

 habit from S. molle, and is occasionally used as a hedge plant to good effect. 

 It should be grown in south Florida and southern CaUfomia." 



36709. Myrciaria cauliflora (Mart.) Berg. Jaboticaba. 

 "(No. 13a. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. October 28, 1913. Jaboticaba, or 



jabuticaba. Seeds from selected large fruits out of the same lot as No. 5a (S. P. 

 I. No. 36702). The fruits from which these seeds were taken were all an inch 

 or more in diameter, and in most cases contained four seeds each." 



36710. Zea mays L. Com. 

 "(No. 14a. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. October 30, 1913.) Catete variety, 



grown on the Catramby ranch. Porta d 'Agua, near Rio de Janeiro. Field about 

 20 acres, growing on bottom land and planted in rows 3 J feet apart, the hills 

 checked about 3 J feet apart. Stalks about 8 feet high. Ears about 3 feet from 

 the ground. Ears in silk at this time, usually one ear to the stalk. Cultivated 

 by hand hoeing. Soil rich and black. The crop was planted about August 1 

 and will be ripe in January. The ranchman says that this is the only variety 

 that does wefl in this idcinity. He says it can be planted at any time of the year 

 and grows equally well at all times. The two sample ears are nubbins left 



