JANUARY 1 TO MAECH 31, 1920. 



31 



49370 to 49383— Continued. 



49370. Ananas sativus Schult. f. Bromeliacese. Pineapple. 

 "(No. 266. Tucuru, Alta Vera Paz. January 12, 1920.) Suckers of 



a variety of pineapple from Tucuru at an altitude of about 3,200 feet. 

 It is known to the few Americans in this region as the ' sugar-loaf ' pine- 

 apple because of its sweetness. It is described by R. W. Hempstead, 

 through whose courtesy I have obtained these suckers, as broadly oval, 

 large, with white, very juicy, sweet-flavored flesh." 



49371. An NONA scleroderma Safford. Annonacese. 



"(No. 249a. Tucuru. Alta Vera Paz. January 12. 1920.) Posh 

 (Kekchi) ; Spanish orthography pox, sometimes called in English 'hard- 

 shelled custard-apple.' Seeds of a rare species of Annona from Chama, 

 on the Rio Chixoy ; altitude 950 feet. 



" In size of tree and habit of growth rhis species resembles Annona 

 reticulata. In foliage, however, it is quite distinct. The leaves are 

 oblong to oblong-lanceolate, 6 to 9 inches long. 2^ to 3 inches broad, shortly 

 acuDiinate, coriaceous, deep green and almost glossy above, paler beneath. 

 " The fruits, which are borne on stout stalks about an inch long, are 

 • broadly heart-shaped to round and up to 4 inches in diameter. The 

 surface, which is dull gray-green, differs in character from that of most 

 other Annonas ; it is divided by prominent ridges into irregularly pen- 

 tagonal areas. The skin or outer covering is nearly a quarter of an 

 inch thick and coarsely granular in texture. It forms a brittle shell 

 which effectively protects the flesh and makes it possible for the ripe 

 fruit to be handled roughly without injury to the flesh. The latter, 

 which is snow-white and divided into loosely cohering segments eacli 

 containing a seed the size of a bean, is of remarkably pleasant flavor 

 suggesting that of the sugar-apple (J., squamosa), with a dash of lemon. 

 Many Annonas are heavily sweet or mawkish ; not so the posh. It has 

 suflicient acidity (more than the cherimoya) to give it sprightliness, 

 and it never cloys the palate. 



"The trees which I have seen at Chama are more productive than 

 the average cherimoya. The species may well be compared to Anno7ia, 

 squamosa in fruiting habit. Abortive fruits, such as many of those 

 borne by most cherimoya trees, are rarely produced, but there is con- 

 siderable variation in the size. The average is al)out 3 inches^ in 

 diameter. 



This species evidently belongs to the tropical lowlands ; hence, in 

 the United States, it is likely to succeed only in southern Florida. " 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 40835. 



49372. Chaetochloa paniculifera (Steud.) Hitchc. Poace.T. Grass. 

 (Setaria paniculifera Fourn.) 



♦'(No. 258«. Tucuru, Alta Vera Paz. .January 12. 1920.) Hotz kor 

 (Kekchi). Seeds collected near Chama. This plant is found commonly 

 throughout Alta Vera Paz. where it is considered one of the best forage 

 grasses. It is thought to be more nourishing than most other grasses, 

 and both horses and cattle eat it readily in spite of the fact that the 

 leaves are covered with somewhat coarse hairs which it might be ex- 

 pected would prove disagreeable to animals. 



" Hotz kor never forms pastures or solid stands over large areas, but 

 usually grows on slopes or among scrub, where it forms scattered clumps. 



