OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1920. 



19 



51428 to 51463— Contimied. 



51461. (Undetermined.) 



'•(No. 996. Near Meru, Kenia Province. June 12, 1920.) Liano; beauti- 

 ful clusters of deep reddish velvetlike fruits about the size of a small 

 grape. This is one of the most showy plants of the high forest region ; it 

 is not edible, but is exceptionally ornamental." 



51462. (Undetermined.) 



"(No. 1013. Meru, Kenia Province. June 15, 1920.) Maret (in 

 Somali) ; a small tree with a yellow sweetish fruit said to be good food. 

 The fruit is about three-eighths of an inch long and roundish,*' 



51463. DissoTis eximia (Sond.) Hook. f. Melastomaceae. 



"(No. 1071. En route from Chuka to Embu, Kenia Province. June 16, 

 1920. ) A very attractive plant with purple flowers. It grows well in the 

 bracken area about Kenia." 



51464 to 51479. 



From Siam and China. Plants presented by G. Weidman Groff. Received 

 October 16, 1920. Quoted notes by Mr. Groff unless otherwise specified. 



51464. DuRio ziBETHiNus Murray. Bombacacese. Durian. 

 "Durian seedlings from Siam." 



" In the Malay Archipelago where it is native the durian becomes a 

 large tree, with leathery leaves 6 to 7 inches long and oval fruits from 

 6 to 8 inches in length. The fruit is five valved, and within each com- 

 partment are several seeds surrounded by clear, pale-brown, custard- 

 like pulp of strong gaseous odor and rich bland taste. As remarked 

 by Doctor Paludanus: 'The fruit seems at first to smell like rotten 

 onions, but immediately after tasting it is preferred to all other food.* 

 The durian is tropical in its requirements and should be quite at home 

 in many places in the West Indies. It is ordinarily propagated by 

 seeds, although P. J. Wester has shown that it can be budded." (Wil- 

 son Popenoe.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 45179. 



51465. Gabcinia mangostana L. Clusiaceae. Mangosteen. 

 " Sent from Siam by Dr. Y. S. Sanitwongse." 



"This delicious fruit is about the size of a mandarin orange, round 

 and slightly flattened at each end, with a thick, smooth rind, rich red- 

 purple in color, which, when cut out, exposes the white segments lying 

 loose in the cup. The cif^ surface of the rind is a most delicate pink. 

 The separate segments are whitish and covered with a delicate net- 

 work of fibers. The texture of the pulp resembles that of the plum, 

 and the flavor is indescribably delicious." {David Fairchild.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47120. 

 51466 to 51472. Litchi chinensis Sonner. Sapindacese. Lychee. 

 (Nephelium litchi Cambess.) 



" The lychee has been cultivated for at least 2,000 years in southern 

 Asia, where millions are familiar with it. The tree gi'ows ultimately 

 to a height of 35 or 40 feet, forming a broad round-topped crown well 

 supplied with glossy light-green foliage. The fruits, borne in loose 

 clusters of 2 or 3 to 20, have been likened to strawberries in appearance. 

 When ripe they are deep pink, becoming dnfl brown as the fruit dries. 

 The flavor is subacid, suggestive of the Muscat grape. It should be 

 possible to produce lychees commercially in southwestern Florida, where 

 there is relative freedom from frost nnd where the soils are deep and 

 moist." (Wilson Popenoe.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 48214. 



51466. "No. 401.6." 51469. " No. 409.4." 



51467. "No. 402.8." 51470. " No. 410.6." 



51468. "No. 408.7." 51471. " No. 421.6." 

 51472. " No. 455.1. Mountain lychee seedlings for stock." 



