64 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



52702 to 52714— Continued. 



of the common and Persian lilacs, and in somewhat loose clusters. The 

 growths made during the summer produce the following May a pair of 

 flower trusses 3 to 6 inches long at each joint toward the end, so that 

 the whole makes a heavy arching, compound panicle. The seeds are 

 fertile only occasionally. Native to China. (Adapted from Bean, Trees 

 mid Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 566.) 

 Received as Syringa correlata, which is now referred to S. chin^sis. 



52714. Viburnum sp. Caprifoliacese. 

 Received without description. 



52715 to 52735. 



From Ambato, Ecuador. Seeds collected by Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural 

 Explorer of the United States Department of Agriculture. Received 

 February 12, 1921. Quoted notes by Mr. Popenoe. 



52715. BuNCHOsiA ARMENiACA (Cav.) DC. Malpighiaceae. 



"(No. 541a. Banos, near Ambato, Ecuador, 6,(XK) feet altitude. Jan- 

 uary 10, 1921.) Ciruela verde or ciruela silvestre. This species is con- 

 sidered to be indigenous in the Pasta za Valley below Banos. It is com- 

 monly cultivated in the latter town, and occasionally in the gardens of 

 Ambato, but the climate of the latter region is slightly too cool for it. 

 In Loja it is well known, as also in Otavalo and Ibarra. The plant 

 attains about 15 feet in height and is quite attractive. The glossy deep- 

 green leaves are elliptic-acuminate, 3 to 6 inches long, and rather leath- 

 ery ; the small yellow flowers are produced in short axillary racemes. 

 The fruits are round or nearly so, 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and light 

 green to yellowish green. Within the thin delicate skin is a mass of 

 cream-colored, very sweet pulp in which one or two large seeds are era- 

 bedded. The plant is probably too tender for any section of the United 

 States except southern Florida." 



52716. C)arica sp. Papayacese. Chamburo. 

 "(No. 546a. Ambato, Ecuador. January 12, 1921.) This plant is 



called chilhuacan in the gardens of Imbabura Province, where it is quite 

 common ; the same name is also used at Quito, where the species is fairly 

 well known. In Tungurahua Province it is termed chamburo, while in 

 the Azuay it is known as siglalon. In Loja it is more frequently seen 

 as a wild than as a cultivated plant and is called chamburo. Its zone is 

 approximately from 6,000 to 10,000 feet. 



" The plant, which reaches a height of 15 to 20 feet, has a trunk some- 

 what stouter than that of the papaya and leaves which strongly resemble 

 those of the latter in size and character. It is irregularly dioecious, at 

 least when brought under cultivation. I have seen at Ambato plants 

 bearing principally staminate flowers, but carrying at the same time a 

 good number of fruits apparently normal in form and size. Many speci- 

 mens produce pistillate flowers only, and some staminate only. The 

 fruits, which are sold in the markets of numerous interandean towns, 

 are elliptic, sharply pointed at the apex, and deeply five ribbed. By 

 means of this latter characteristic they can easily be distinguished from 

 those of the higacho {Carica sp., S. P. I No. 53758). They are deep 

 orange when fully ripe, and possess a fragrance quite distinct from that 

 of the papaya. The flesh is about half an inch in thickness ; it is eaten 

 usually after cooking in the form of a sweet conserve. The numerous 



