58 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



49582 to 49612— Continued. 

 49601. ViGNA sp. Fabacese. 



"(No. 348. December 7, 1919.) This bean looks something like a 

 cowpea, but is apparently a perennial ; it was not seen in bloom. It 

 grows 3 to 4 feet high and produces a good crop of beans. Those sent 

 Avere the first ones to ripen." 



49602 to 49604. Ximenia Americana L. Olacacese. False saudalwood, 



49602. "(No. 301. November 25, 1919). A tree like Xu. [S. P. 

 I. No. 49250], but collected at Kafue." 



49603. "(No. 304. December 4, 1919.) Impinji. Apparently the 

 same as No. 301 [S. P. I. No. 49602] and No. 279 [S. P. I. No. 

 49250], but with slightly smaller fruits. These are fairly edible 

 if skin and stone are both rejected. They look like Prunus ameri- 

 cana, but are red in color and haA^e a large stone with a ' paper ' 

 shell. The pounded seed is prized for its edible oil. Abundant 

 in Nyasaland." 



49604. "(No. 305. December 4, 1919.) Same as No. 301 [S. P. I. 

 No. 49602]." 



49605. Zea mays L. Poacese. Corn- 

 "(No. 306. December 4, 1919.) Corn, which is said to be small and 



early, now being planted by the natives on tlie south side of the Kafue 

 River. The trees are burned down, or chopped and burned afterward, 

 and corn is plaiited where the soil is richest and where thei e is least 

 likelihood of troul>le from weeds. Termite hills are usually favorite 

 locations." 



49606. (Undetermined.) 



"(No. 294. Bolenga Camp on the Kafue River. November 25, 1919.) 

 A small tree." 



49607. ( Undeterimned. ) 



"(No. 298. Bolenga Camp on the Kafue River. November 25, 1919.) 

 Called m' tin gel e by the Chimyanja. A small tree or shrub with a fruit 

 that appears to be a small kumquat. but which is really fleshy outside. 

 It is eaten by some of the natives*. The fruit is very good, althougli the 

 flesh is very thin." 



49608. Canthium lanoiflorum Hiern. Rubiacese. Maululu. 

 "(No. 317. December 4, 1919.) Called maululu in Chimyanja, and 



'plum' or 'fruit tree' by the whites. A small tree, 6 to 10 feet high, 

 with a spreading top. The fruits are green, changing to light brown 

 when ripe; they are somewhat spicy and sweetish and very pleasant 

 after the first taste ; each fruit has one or possibly two seeds, from 1 to 

 If inches long. This is regarded by the whites as their best fruit. Green 

 fruits collected one day ripen rapidly and are often good to eat the 

 following day." 



Plate YII shows the fruits and Plate YIII the habit of growth of 

 this tree. 



49609. (Undetermined.) 



"(No. 319. Kafue. December 4, 1919.) M'piU (Chinja). A fi-uit 

 about 2 inches through, which has a hard rind, green with a purple flush 

 on one side; it is filled with seeds, which are surrounded with more 

 or less fibrous pulp; the juice is milky. In flavor it is almost exactly 

 like Tamarindus. It is used to make a very pleasant drink." 



