15 



ASSONIA PUNCTATA. A small sterculiaceous tree, native to 

 Mauritius, with smooth firm leaves orbicular and deeply cordate, 

 3 to 4 inches long, slightly wavy margined. The rose-colored flowers 

 are arranged in umbels of 10 to 20 blossoms each. Reported as 

 hardy in southern California. Seems to promise well for lawn and 

 • park planting in the South. A rapid grower. 



23471. AVERRHOA BILIMBI. Cucumber tree. From Hon. 

 J. E. Conner, Cochin China. Small, oxalidaceous tree with ever- 

 green, odd-pinnate leaves resembling those of the sumac; and ra- 

 cemes of small red flowers produced from the trunk. The cucumber- 

 shaped, acid fruit makes an excellent dish when made into sirup, 

 candied, or pickled. Extensively cultivated in India and South 

 America. 



BARLERIA CRISTATA. Small, blue-flowered shrub, cultivated 

 in the Philippines as a hedge plant. Said .to be the best in the 

 Tropics for this purpose and to flower all the year through. Often 

 used as a garden shrub in India, where it is native, because of its 

 showy, dense spikes of blue (sometimes purplish or white) flowers. 

 Roots and leaves are used in India to reduce swellings. Seeds sup- 

 posed to be an antidote for snake bites. 



37901. BARYXYLUM DUBIUM. Collected by Dorsett, Shamel, 

 and Popenoe, Minas Geraes, Brazil. A handsome ornamental tree, 

 with bipinnate, mimosalike foliage and beautiful, nearly regular 

 flowers arranged in huge panicles. The leaves are composed of 8 to 

 24 pairs of oblong leaflets. It is closely related to the Royal poin- 

 ciana, with which it vies in beauty of flower and foliage; native to 

 Brazil. 



BARYXYLUM INERME. Magnificent ornamental leguminous 

 tree with spreading top, fine, graceful, feathery foliage, and large, 

 erect panicles of rusty yellow, fragrant flowers. Tree is large, quick 

 growing, and symmetrical. Native of Ceylon and Malaya. Re- 

 ported as " specially suited to dry districts," but also thrives to per- 

 fection in the moist regions of the Tropics up to 1,800 feet. 



BELOU MARMELOS. Bael fruit. Handsome tree of the fam- 

 ily Rutaceae, with thin trifoliolate leaves and greenish yellow fruit, 

 usually 4 to 5 inches in diameter. Eaten raw or used for making 

 marmalade or sherbet and other refreshing drinks. Has mild laxa- 

 tive properties. Said to withstand temperature of 20° F. in north- 

 western India. 



