66 



SEEDS AND PLANTS IMPORTED. 



53563 to 53590— Continued. 



53587. Kandia uliginosa (K('tz.) Poir. liiibiacea}. 



"Collected near Manikpur, in tke forests of the low Vindhva Moun- 

 tains, April 21, 1920." 



A small tree rarely reachinc: 20 feet Iiish, with reddish brown, scaly 

 bark, thick horizontal branches, many of them terminating in one to 

 two pairs of strong sharp thorns half an inch long. The thin glabrous 

 leaves, pubescent beneath, are clustered on suppressed branchlets. The 

 solitary, fragrant, white flowers are 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The 

 smooth, ovoid yellowish brown fruits, 2 to 3 inches long and containing 

 numerous smooth seeds closely packed in pulp, are eaten after being 

 boiled or roasted. Native throughout the Bombay Presidency. (Adapted 

 from Cooke, Flora of Bombay, vol. 1, p. 699.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47769. 



53588. Stercui.ia ueens Roxb. Sterculiaceae. 



"A fine large tree commonly met in peninsular Indian climax decidu- 

 ous forests, or farther south, in forests immediately preceding the climax. 

 Collected at Shivpuri (Sipri), Gwalior State, India. To be grown where 

 there is little or no danger of frost." 



A large Indian tree with a straight trunk and white, smooth, papery 

 bark, the outer surface thin and peeling off, the inner coat fibrous and 

 netted. The glabrous leaves, velvety beneath and 8 to 12 inches long, 

 are crowded at the ends of the branches. The numerous small yellow 

 flowers are in terminal panicles appearing before the leaves. A gum 

 called katila, which has been used as an inferior substitute for traga- 

 canth (itself used as a substitute for gum arable in medicine and in the 

 arts) is obtained from the tree; the seeds are roasted and eaten by the 

 poorer natives and in some parts of India are ground and used as a 

 kind of coffee. (Adapted from Cooke, Flora of Bomlay, vol. 1, p. 123.) 



53589. Tekminalia tomentosa (Roxb.) Wight and Arn. Combretacese. 



"A climax tree (dominant with Tectona grandis farther south) of 

 monsoon-deciduous forests of peninsular India. Collected at Shivpuri 

 (Sipri), Gwalior State, India, April 2, 1921." 



A large tree, 80 to 100 feet high, with hard coriaceous leaves 5 to 9 

 inches long and dull-yellow flowers in erect terminal panicles. A common 

 tree in the moister regions of India ; it thrives best in heavy binding 

 soils. The dark-brown wood, mottled with darker streaks, is used in 

 northern India for house building, etc. ; it is an excellent fuel and 

 furnishes good charcoal; potash is made of it. The bark is used for 

 tanning and the ashes of the bark are chewed with the betel leaf. The 

 common tasar silkworm feeds on the leaves; lakh is occasionally gath- 

 ered on the branches, and in Oudh and the Northwest Provinces the 

 leaves are lopped for cattle fodder. (Adapted from Brandis, Forest 

 Flora of India, p. 226.) 



For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 47856. 



53590. Teiticum aestivl-;m: L. Poaeea*. Common wheat, 

 (T. vnlgare Vill.) 



" Purple-stemmed wheat from the Himalayan portion of the Ganges 

 Valley, at Ballu. Collected May 28, 1920. Should grow^ in a climate 

 like that of Virginia." 



53591. Eugenia luma (Molina) Berg. Myrtacese. 

 (E. apiculata DC.) 



From San Francisco. Calif. Seeds presented by John McLaren, superin- 

 tendent, Golden Gate Park. Received April 23, 1921. 



An ornamental Chilean shrub bearing small edible fruits reported to have 

 a refreshing flavor." 



