38 



GLEDITSIA SINENSIS. Soap bean. From China. Legu- 

 minous tree to 40 feet in height. Leaves 5 to 7 inches long, 8 to 1 8 

 foliolate, yellowish green, dull above. Pods contain saponin, used 

 by Chinese for soap to wash hair and certain fabrics. Tree forms 

 beautiful well-rounded heads. Strongly drought and somewhat 

 alkali resistant. An ornamental shade or park tree for mild-wintered 

 semiarid regions. 



41652. HIBISCUS BIFURCATUS. MaUow. From H. M. 

 Curran, Bahia, Brazil. A climbing shrub (or almost a vine) found in 

 clearings along river banks where its great masses of showy pink 

 flowers render it very attractive. Climbs 15 to 20 feet and the slen- 

 der branches may be trained over porches or arbors. Very profuse 

 and continual bloomer. 



42832. HIBISCUS LUNARIFOLIUS. MaUow. Presented by 

 the director, Department of Colonization, Asmara, Eritrea, Africa. 

 An undershrub with roundish or sometimes slightly 3 to 5 lobcd 

 long-stalked leaves and terminal flower clusters of large yellow flow- 

 ers 2 to 3 inches across. Related to the ''swamp mallows" {Hibis- 

 cus spp.). Possibly of value as an ornamental in the South. 



HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA. RoseUe or Jamaica sorrel. 



Biennial, 3 to 5 feet high, commonly cultivated in warm countries. 

 Produces an abundance of large, bright-red calyces in autumn. 

 These, as weU as the young leaves, by many are considered superior 

 to cranberries for sauce and jelly making. Very ornamental when 

 in bloom and in fruit. Sensitive to frost. 



HOMOIOCELTIS ASPERA. A Japanese ornamental tree, up to 

 60 feet high, having the appearance of a hackberry (Celtis spp.), 

 with the slender branches forming a dense head, rather inconspicuous, 

 greenish flowers and small black drupes. Cultivated for its foliage 

 and sometimes planted as a shade tree. Not hardy north of Georgia. 



HOVENIA DULCIS. Raisin tree. A deciduous, ornamental 

 tree, 40 to 60 feet high, with attractive, dark-green foliage, native of 

 China. Fruits about the size of a smaU pea are seated on the ends 

 of fleshy fruit stalks, which are extremely sweet, resembling raisins 

 in flavor. They are used m wine making m Algeria and in China 

 are eaten after a feast to counteract the effects of alcohol. 



38565. HY]\IENAEA COURBARIL. From O. F. Cook, Guate- 

 mala City, Guatemala. Handsome tree with curious compound 

 leaves consisting of two leaflets. Similar to Bauhinia but leaflets not 

 united. The thick woody shells of the large pods contain a resin 

 said to be used in the manufacture of varnish. Seeds packed in a 

 thick layer of grayish powdery substance tasting like licorice root, 

 commonly eaten and often sold in the markets. 



