1409 
Argania spinosa (Sapotaceae), 46969. From Algiers. 
Presented by Mr. T. H. Kearney of the U. S. Department 
of Agriculture. "Seeds collected from an Argania tree 
growing in the garden of the School of Medicine at 
Algiers." (Kearney.) 
"A spiny, small-leaved tree from northern Africa, 
belonging to the Sapotaceae. It is a much-branched 
evergreen tree, attaining a height of from 20 to 30 
feet. The fruits, the size of an olive, are used for 
feeding stock. After the small kernels have been 
roasted and ground," an oil of an irritating and harsh 
taste is extracted from them. This is, nevertheless, 
used in Morocco for f ood , and also for light . It makes 
a good soap. The tree will grow in the driest soil, 
and bears in four years. It is said not to be in full 
bearing, however, until fifteen years old." (Swingle.) 
"The Argan tree is in many respects the most re- 
markable plant of South Morocco; and it attracts the 
more attention as it is the only tree that commonly 
attains a large size,, and. forms a conspicuous feature 
of the landscape in the low country near the coast. 
In structure and properties it is nearly allied to the 
tropical genus Sideroxylon (Ironwood) ; but there Is e- 
nough of general resemblance to the familiar olive tree 
of the Mediterranean region, both in its mode of growth 
and its economic uses, to make it the local repre- 
sentative of that plant. Its home is the sub-littoral 
zone of southwestern Morocco, where It is common between 
the rivers Tensift and Sous. A few scattered trees only, 
are said to be found north of the Tensift; but it seems 
to be not infrequent in the hilly district between the 
Sous and the river of Oued Noun, making the total extent 
of its distribution about 200 miles. Extending from 
near the coast for a distance of 30 or 40 miles in- 
land, it is absolutely unknown elsewhere in the world. 
The trunk always divides at a height of 8 or 10 feet 
from^.the ground, and sends out numerous, spreading, 
nearly horizontal branches. The growth is apparently 
very slow, and the trees that attain a girth of 12 to 
15 feet are probably of great antiquity. The minor 
branches and young shoots are beset with stiff, thick 
spines, and the leaves are like those of the olive in 
shape, but of a fuller green, somewhat paler on the 
under side. Unlike the olive, the wood is of extreme 
hardness, and seemingly indestructible by insects, as 
we saw no example of a hollow trunk . The fruit, much 
like a large olive in appearance, but varying much in 
size and shape, is greedily devoured by goats, sheep, 
