OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1920. 



17 



51428 to 51463— Continued. 



51432. DiGiTARiA ABYSsiNiCA (Hochst.) Stapf. Poacese. Grass. 

 *' (No. 1149. Escarpment, Ukamba Province. July 4, 1920.) A very 



small grass with a habit similar to that of kikuyu grass {Pennisetum 

 clandestinum) . It is closely grazed by stock." 



51433. DoiJCiios lablab Ij. Fabacefe. Hyacinth bean. 

 "(No. 987. Meru, Kenia Province. May 21, 1920.) A flat black bean 



with a large white hilnm ; obtained in market. This boan is extensively 

 grown by the Kikuyus." 

 For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47978. 



51434. Elicheysum sp. Asteracese. 



•* (No. 1163. Kijabe, Ukamba Province. July 5, 1920.) A small yel- 

 low straw flower." 



51435. Gladiolus sp. Iridacese. Gladiolus. 

 " (No. 1087. Fort Hall, Kenia Province. June 17, 1920.) Has a red 



flower with yellow on the lower side ; the petals are very large at times." 



51436. Hibiscus sp. INIalvacere. 

 " Pui*ple or lavender." 



Pods of hibiscus included in a shipment sent from Nairobi ; without a 

 number or data. 



51437. Hibiscus sp. Malvaceae. 



"(No. 1157. Kijabe, Ukamba Province. July 5, 1920.) A small 

 white-flowered type; an attractive shrub." 



51438. Hibiscus sp. MalvaceJB. 



" (No. 1168a. Nairobi, Ukamba Province. July 7, 1920.) From the 

 Botanic Garden ; a rather unattractive plant with a large pretty flower." 



51439. HoLcus sorghum L. Poacese. Sorghum. 

 {Sorghum vuJgare Pers.) 



''(No. 1098. Fort Hall, Kenia Province. June 17, 1920.) A lot of. 

 seed collected between Fort Hall and Nairobi." 



51440. Hyphaene thebaica (L.) Mart. Phoenicaceie. Doum palm. 

 "(No. 1028. Uaso Nyiro River, Kenia Province. June 15, 1920.)" 

 The doum palm is distributed from Upper Egypt to Central Africa and 



is usually not more than 25 feet in height ; in old trees the stem is some- 

 times forked three or four times. The fruits, which are borne in long 

 clusters, from 1 to 200 in a cluster, are yellowish bro^^^l and beautifully 

 colored. In East Africa they are eaten by elephants and by natives and 

 whites, especially in times of shortage of other foods. In Upper Egypt 

 they form part of the food of the poorest classes, the part eaten being 

 the fibrous mealy husk, which tnstes much like gingerbread but is of a 

 rather dry and husky nature. The hard, tough wood is used for making 

 various domestic utensils. (Adapted from Lindley and Moore, Trea.wry 

 of Botany, vol. 2, p. 612.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47402. 



For an illustration showing the doum palm in its native habitat, see 

 Plate V. 



51441. Inula sp. Asteracese. 



"(No. 1166. Kijabe, Ukamba Province. July 5, 1920.) A large blue- 

 flowered plant, reminding one of Centaurea." 



51442. .TuNiPERUS PKOCEKA Hochst. Pinacese. Juniper. 

 "(No. 1162. Ki.iabe, Ukamba Province. .Tuly 5. 1920. Herb. No. 



880.) A prominent forest tree along the escarpment above the Rift 

 Valley. Probably the Abyssinian juniper." 



51443. LiNUM usitattsrimum: L. Linacese. Flax. 

 "(No. 1169. Nairobi, Ukamba Province. July 7, 1920.) Dutch Child. 



imported from Yorkshire ; 1919 crop." 



51444 and 51445. Okyza sativa L. Poacese. Rice. 



51444. "(No. 1170. Nairobi, Ukamba Province. July 7. 1920.) 

 iNIountain rice, from India." 



51445. "(No. 1172. Nairobi, Ukamba Province. July 7. 1920.) 

 Mountain rice (Mazeras) 



