1297 
small leguminous tree which occurs commonly on the 
plains of the state of Mlnas Geraes, and Is said by 
Pio Correa to be distributed from Para, In northern 
Brazil, to Sao Paulo In the southern part of the coun- 
try. The bark contains a high percentage of tannin, 
and Is known as casca da virgindade; the seeds are said to 
be poisonous, and the leaves to have medicinal quali- 
ties. It is the bark, however, that seems to have 
economic interest, being considered of value for use 
in tanning. According to Brazilian authorities it 
contains as high as 40 per cent of tannin; an analysis 
made by the Bureau of Chemistry, United States De- 
partment of Agriculture, gave the following results: 
Total dissolved solids 
Soluble solids in cold water_ 
N on- tannins _ 
Tannins .'. - 
,.31,6 per cent 
..28 . 6 " " 
..-.6 . 7 " " 
..20.1 " » 
Tuteheria speetdbilis (Theaceae), 45720. From Hongkong, 
China. Presented by Mr. W. J. Tutcher, Botanical and 
Forestry Department. A handsome, ornamental, small 
tree or shrub, indigenous to the Island of Hongkong. 
The leaves are alternate, short-petloled, coriaceous 
and shining. The flowers are about 2§ inches in di- 
ameter usually having 7 white, roundish-obovate petals . 
Fruit is a woody capsule, the size of a small apple, 
retaining at the base the persistent sepals, and con- 
taining several large seeds. The plant flowers in May 
and fruits in November. (Adapted from Champion, Trans- 
actions of the Linnean Society vpl. 21, p. Ill, 1850.) 
Vitis tiliaefolia (Vitaceae), 45797. Grape. From Zacu- 
apam, Mexico. Presented by Dr. C. A. Purpus. "A small- 
fruited wild grape excellent for jelly. This is es- 
sentially a tropical grape." (Purpus.) A grape which 
is widely distributed in the* American tropics. It 
varies greatly and of ten runs into white-leaved forms. 
The cluster of fruit is long and long-peduncled , large 
and compound; the purple berries are small and globose. 
This species is considered promising as a pomological 
grape for the tropics. (Adapted from Bailey, Standard 
Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 6, p. 3489.) 
