SAPIUDACEAE 



in the foothills in the southwest. In the winter of 1936 most of 

 the bushes were frozen to the ground. The plants, however, wore not 

 killed and soon now shoots sprang up from the roots. This is an 

 excellent erosion control plant tut is worthless as forage. It is 

 interesting, however, from the standpoint of the uses to which it 

 has been put in the past. The seeds, which are borne in abundance, 

 are said to be edible. The winged fruits were formerly extensively 

 used in Australia as a substitute for hops in the making of yeast 

 and beer. The bark and leaves have been used medicinally for 

 practically everything from corns to TB. It is a plant well worthy 

 of careful study to ascertain its medicinal value and possible use 

 of the seeds for food. 



* Sap Indu s drummondii, Soapberry Tree, is a small tree extend- 

 ing from southern 'Jew Hoxico to southern Arizona. It has leaves 

 which resemble the Sumac but fruits which resemble those of the 

 Umbrella Tree. Occasionally along rocky washes this tree is a 

 desirable erosion control plant. At times thickets of it occur on 

 rather steep slopes and on such sites is an excellent soil binder. 

 The loaves are unpalatable to stock and the fruits are definitely 

 poisonous, containing an alkaloid saponin. In fact the fruits are 

 richer in this drug than any other plant in the west. For this 

 reason the berries have been used as a substitute for soap. This 

 small tree seems to suggest itself for study as an erosion control 

 plant and as an ornamental. Doubtless selections of it can be made 

 which are rapid-growing and which attain considerable size. For 

 example, trees along the Upper Minor es in Hew Mexico are magnificent 

 specimens, frequently 25 to 30 feet high and a foot cr more in dia- 

 meter. These are a distinct contrast to the usual run of trees in 

 southern New Mexico and southern Arizona, which arc usually 10 to 

 15 feet high and four or five inches in diameter. 



Ung nadi a speciosa is called the New Mexican Buckeye. It is 

 confined to deep, rocky canyons of extreme southeastern Texas and 

 southern New Mexico. It is a largo shrub or a small tree of rather 

 sprawling and ungraceful habit. The leaves resemble those of the 

 Eastern Buckeye, The fruit is a somewhat triangular three-culled 

 husk containing three seeds. It is a very rare plant with us and 

 should constitute a novelty in arboreta. It probably has no value 

 for forage or for erosion control. 



PJIAMNACEAE 



* Ccan othus fendleri, commonly called Buck Brush or sometimes 

 Soap Bush, is a low spreading shrub with small grayish leaves which 

 are darker green above than below. It i s common throughout the yel- 

 low pine region in our territory and far to the north and west. Its 

 low sprawling habit combined with its tendency to form complete 



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