619 
CANARIUM SP. (Balsameaceae. ) 34694. Seeds of the pill 
nut from Manila, Philippine Islands. Presented by M». 0. W. 
Barrett, Chief, Division of Horticulture, Bureau of Agricul- 
ture. "A large tree indigenous to the Philippines, that pro- 
duces an edible nut of excellent quality. There are two spe- 
cies, C. ovatum and C. pachyphyllum, the nuts of which are 
very similar to each other. It is impossible, not having seen 
the tree from which the nuts were obtained, to say to which 
species the nuts belong which are being sent to you. Pili nuts 
are to some extent cultivated in southeastern Luzon inter- 
planted with coconuts." (Barrett.) For distribution later. 
CANAVALI SPP. (Fabaceae.) 34705-709. Seeds from Miami, 
Florida. Grown by Mr. Edward Simmonds at the Plant Introduc- 
tion Field Station. "This seed was received in 1908 from Mr. 
J. S. Houser of the Cuban Experiment Station. It has proven 
very satisfactory as a green manure crop at Miami, the plants 
continuing to grow throughout the winter season." (Simmonds.) 
For a discusson of two of the species of this genus, see Mr. 
C. V. Piper's "The Jack Bean and the Sword Bean" in Miscel- 
laneous papers, Circular No. 110, Bureau of Plant Industry, 
just published. For distribution later. 
CLIANTHUS PUNICEUS. (Fabaceae.) 34716. Seeds of the 
kowhai from Wellington, New Zealand. Presented by Mr. G . J. 
Clapham, Public Works Department. "A white- flowered form of 
the kowhai, which in its scarlet-flowered form is one of the 
most gorgeous of New Zealand flowering plants. With its 
flowers two inches in length in long pendulous racemes and its 
heavy, dark-green glossy pinnate leaves it should prove a de- 
sirable addition to the drooping shrubs suitable for growing 
In regions having but slight frosts. The flowers are said to 
be pollinated by birds in its native haunts." (Blackwell and 
Laing, Plants of New Zealand.) For distribution later. 
CURCUMA LONGA. ( Zinziberaceae . ) 34773. Roots of turmeric 
from Usumbwa, German East Africa. Presented by the Usumbwa 
Company, Post Tabora, Usumbwa. "Resembles ginger in the 
nature and form of its rhizomes and rounded tubers, but larger 
and shorter. In commerce they are separated into longs and 
rounds. In India much of the turmeric is used for dyeing 
silk, because the tuber contains a starch associated with a 
coloring matter (curcumine), of a beautiful orange yellow. 
Because of its essential aromatic oil it is used as a condi- 
ment in the Far East and especially in the manufacture of 
curry. Many tribes of Polynesia use it to stain their bodies 
and their hair. Curcuma is known still in the spice trade 
under the name of Indian saffron, and in the West Indies, 
