f 



OCTOBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 1^. 



51 



51794 to 51801— Continued. 



51796. Bbownea gbandiceps Jacq. Csesalpiniacese. 



"(No. 497a. October 14, 1920.) Seeds of a magnificent flowering tree, 

 native to the Magdalena Valley in Colombia. These seeds are from 

 Guaduas, Cundinamarca, altitude about 3,300 feet. 



" The tree is not large — about 20 feet in height — but it produces flame- 

 scarlet flowers in compact clusters (they could almost be termed heads) 

 6 to 8 inches long and broad. While this plant is tropical, the fact that 

 it is grown at Guaduas makes me think that it may succeed in southern 

 Florida." 



51797. Drimys wintebi Forst. Magnoliacese. Canelo. 



"(No. 505. October 2.5, 1920. Herb. No. 1109.) Flants ot palo de aji. 

 From El Penon, near Sibate, Cundinamarca ; altitude, 9,300 feet. A small 

 tree, reaching a height of 18 feet. The leaves are long and slender, bright 

 green above and silvery below. The flowers, which are produced in clus- 

 ters about 6 inches broad, are individually an inch in diameter, double, 

 pure white, and faintly fragrant. When crushed the leaves have a spicy 

 odor. This is an ornamental tree worthy of trial in the lower South 

 and on the Pacific coast." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 42869. 



51798. LupiNus CRUCKSHANKsn Hook. Fabacese. Lupine. 



" (No. 496a. October 14, 1920. Herb. No. 1150.) Seeds of chocho. 

 From a garden on the road between Sibate and El Penon; altitude, about 

 9,400 feet. Several species of lupine are known in Cundinamarca under 

 this common name. Some are wild, some cultivated. The one repre- 

 sented by these seeds is a handsome half-woody shrub, a favorite garden 

 plant on the sabana of Bogota. It reaches a height of about 6 feet and 

 is usually broad and bushy in habit. Above the attractive foliage rise 

 numerous spikes of varicolored pealike flowers. The predominant colors 

 are blue, lilac, white, and yellow. 



"To my mind, this is a plant well worth cultivating in the United 

 States. In California and Florida it will probably grow as a perennial. 

 It seems to me that it might be possible to cultivate it elsewhere as an 

 annual." 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 51566. 



51799. TiBOucHiNA sp. Melastomaceae. 



"(No. 502. October 25, 1920. Herb. No. 1185.) Plants of sie^e-cweros. 

 From El Penon, near Sibate, Cundinamarca ; altitude, 9,300 feet. A hand- 

 some arborescent shrub, wild in several parts of Cundinamarca and culti- 

 vated in the gardens and dooryards of Bogota. It ultimately reaches 

 about 15 feet in height and produces flowers about 2 inches across : when 

 these first open they are purplish red in color, and as they grow older they 

 change to bluish purple and sometimes almost to deep blue. It is a plant 

 which merits a trial in California and Florida as an ornamental." 



51800. Vallea stipulaeis L. f. Elseocarpacese. 



"(No. 501a. October 25, 1920. Herb. No. 1149.) Seeds of raque. 

 From Sibate, Cundinamarca; altitude, about 9,000 feet. A small tree, 

 common in this region. It has attractive foliage and about July, August, 

 and September produces small clusters of rose-red flowers, followed by 

 wrinkled fruits half an inch in diameter. It is an attractive plant which 

 should be tested in the lower South and on the Paciflc coast as an orna- 

 mental tree." 



51801. Lasianthus sp. Rubiacese. 



" (No. 503. October 23, 1920. Herb. No. 1110.) Clavel del monte, 

 from El Penon, near Sibate, Cundinamarca; altitude, 9,300 feet. A tall 

 shrub native to this region. It produces rose-pink flowers, somewhat 

 funnel-shaped and about 2 inches across at the mouth. It does not bloom 

 very profusely, but is an attractive thing nevertheless and deserves a trial 

 in the lower South and on the Pacific coast." 



