54 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



48835 to 48837— Continued. 



of the (Iroujrhty inlands. It has large, whitish leaves and numerous 

 flowers in terminal clusters, and at all stages of its growth is decidedly 

 ornamental. When grass and other herbage fail it is cut down and the 

 leaves fed to sheep and cattle, which seem to thrive on them. (Adapted 

 from The Pastoral Finance Association Magazint, Sydney, vol. 5, p. 33.) 



48836. Geijera parviflora Lindl. Rutacese. Wilga. 

 A tall shrub or tree, up to 30 feet in height, native to the interior of 



New South Wales. It has slender branches and narrow leaves, and when 

 full grown is very ornamental, resembling somewhat the weeping willow. 

 Its drought-enduring qualities are remarkable, as it will continue to 

 grow under the most adverse climatic conditions. It is often cut down 

 for feeding to stock, especially sheep, which eat it readily and seem to 

 do well on it. (Adapted from TJie Pa^itoral Finance Association Maga- 

 zine, Sydney, vol. 5, p. 132.) 



48837. MiDA ACUMINATA (R. Br.) Kuntze, Santalacese. Quandong. 

 The quandong, sometimes called " native peach," attains a height of 20 



to 30 feet, and is found in the hotter and drier parts of New South Wales. 

 The lanceolate leaves are much relished by cattle, and because of the 

 remarkable drought-enduring properties of this tree it is very valuable 

 in times of scarcity of rain. The fruit is red, from 1^ to 3 inches in cir- 

 cumference, and of considerable economic value. The succulent outer 

 part is edible, and makes an excellent conserve and jelly. The edible 

 kernels have a pleasant flavor and contain a large percentage of oil, 

 which when burned gives a good light. (Adapted from The Pastoral 

 Finance Association Magazine, Sydney, vol. 5, p. 33.) 



48838. MouRiRiA pusa Gardn. Melastomacese. Pusa. 

 {Ciposia mandapuca Alv. Silv.) 



From Minas Geraes, Brazil. Presented by Dr. Alvaro da Silveira, Bello 

 Horizonte. Received December 27, 1919. 

 " The fruit is edible ; the pulp is sweet and of a flavor most pleasing to the 

 natives." ( Silv\eira. ) 



A small tree, about 10 feet high, with an upright stem and horizontal branches. 

 Th[e obliquely globose, edible fruit is as large as that of the common wild 

 cherry. It is called pusa by the natives, w^ho esteem it for its sweet pulp and 

 pleasing flavor. (Adapted from Hooker's Joimml of Botany, p. 23.) 



48839. Sambucus nigra L. Caprifoliacese. Elderberry. 



From Wiesbaden, Germany. Presented by Mr. Hugo Mulertt. Received 

 October 15, 1919. 



" Last year I found growing in an abandoned quarry in the Taunus Moun- 

 tains, here near the Rhine, a young elderbush (Sambucus), bearing apparently 

 for the first time. The fruits instead of being black were greenish golden in 

 color and semitransparent when ripe ; the individual berries were about three 

 or four times as large of those of the common Sambucus nigra and very sweet 

 and spicy. They were used in cookery and found excellent and quite distinct 

 in taste. The fact, too, that the juice does not stain table linen nor one's teeth 

 is of no little importance. I have propagated it from seeds and cuttings suc- 

 cessfully. The bush bore 2^ pounds of fruit last year ; this year I gathered 21 

 pounds from it," (Mulertt.) 



