84 
TRANSACTIONS OF THE TEXAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 
64. Rivina laevis Linn. — June 3, in bloom and frnit. Florida, Texas, 
the West Indies, and Mexico to Brazil and Ecuador. (60) 
65. Ulmus crassifolia Nutt. — Southwest Texas. (45) 
66. Celtis mississippiensis Bose. — May. Southern States to central 
and south Texas. (42) 
67. Tillandsia recurvata Linn. — March 24. South Texas and the 
lower Bio Grande to Yucatan. (11) 
68. Nothoscordum striatum Kunth. — March 24. Throughout the more 
humid portions of Texas. (12) 
69. Yucca treculeana Carr. — Blooms from middle of February to first 
part of March. Seen in flower in Matamoros, February 15, but usually 
blooms about March 1. Det. Trelease from flowers, leaves and photo- 
graphs as probably this species. Extensive areas, consisting of many 
specimens of this Yucca , occur on the gravelly ridges which are to be 
found half way between Brownsville and the coast (Point Isabel). 
Southern and southwestern Texas, to northern Mexico (Coahuila). (1) 
70. Sabal palmetto R. & S. var. mexicana (Auct.?). — June 16, in 
bloom. Covers extensive areas near the river a few miles below Browns- 
ville, forming hammocks or thickets of semi-tropical jungle some miles in 
extent in the bottoms. Extends from the lower Rio Grande south through 
Mexico, in suitable places on the Gulf coast slope. (Det. Towns.) (73) 
71. Arundinaria sp. — Forming dense cane-brakes a few miles below 
Brownsville and Matamoros, on both sides of the river, especially in 
places in edges of palmetto thickets. It is probably A. macrosperma 
Michx., which occurs from "central Texas to Virginia” (Coulter). Det. 
Towns. (89) 
It may be noted that the papaw, Carica papaya, is cultivated in gar- 
dens at Matamoros and Browsville, but freezes to the ground in winter 
when frosts occur. Bananas and pineapples are cultivated at Browns- 
ville to some extent. Date palms grow well; also oranges, guavas, figs, 
etc. But purely tropical plants will not succeed in the long run, from 
liability to killing frosts in winter. It would not be safe to venture their 
production on more than a very limited scale, and facilities should then 
be provided for protecting the plants or trees in winter. Sugar is raised 
on a rather large scale, and succeeds well. The maguey, Agave ameri- 
cana, is grown in yards; it flowers and flourishes well. The castor-oil 
bean, Ricinus communis, grows wild. 
There seems to be not a little similarity between the southwest Texas 
region and the northern half of Yucatan. The conditions are very 
similar in the two regions in many points, and it is a rather striking fact 
that not a few plants, hitherto supposed to be more or less closely re- 
stricted to the lower Rio Grande region, have recently been recorded 
