987 
clusters suspended from the ends of the branches,- present- 
ing a very ornamental effect. Each fruit is of the size of 
a large gooseberry, covered with long soft Colored spines, 
the interior being occupied by a large seed, surrounded by 
a layer of white opaque pulp (aril), which is of an acid- 
ulous agreeable taste. Birds and bats are partial to it. 
The tree is readily propagated from seed, but the best var- 
ieties should" be raised by grafts or gootees. Thrives up 
to 2,000 feet elevation."- (MacMlllan, Hand book of Tropi- 
cal Gardening, 2nd Ed., p. 176.) "Pulassan. A Malayan tree, 
similar to rambuian In appearance, but differing in the fruit 
and in the leaves being grey beneath. The. fruit is larger 
than the rambutan, of a deep purple brown, with short blunt 
processes, and according to Ridley, the flavor is decidedly 
superior to that of the latter fruit." (MacMlllan, Hand- 
book of Tropical Gardening, 2nd Ed. , p. 176.); 
Osterdamia matrella (L.) Kuntze. (Poaceae. ) 42389. Seeds 
from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Presented by Dr. 
J. H. Maiden, Director Botanic Garden. A grass of consider- 
able value on littoral swamps and dry flats. near the sea. 
According to Kirk, it Is found sometimes forming a compact 
turf on dry land, and affording a large supply of succulent 
herbage for horses, cattle and sheep. Its value, however, 
in such localities, if bulkier grasses would grow there, 
must be comparatively little, as, from its close-growing 
habit, it chokes out all other species. It is evidently 
much relished by stock, and is worthy of introduction in 
sand-hill districts near the sea; or saline soil Inland. 
(Abstract from Maiden, Useful' Native Plants of Australia, 
p. 112. ) 
Prinsepia utilis Royle . (Amygdalaceae .) 42623 . Seeds from 
British India. Presented by Mr. M. Buysman, LaWang, Java. 
"A shrub, 3 to 5 feet; branchlets green, soft, pubescent 
when young; pith septate. Leaves 1-5 inches, coriaceous, 
acuminate, entire or serrate. Flowers \ Inch in diameter, 
white, usually opening in autumn. Drupes | to 2/3 inch, 
purple, subtended by the Withered calyx. Dry rocky hills 
on the temperate Himalayas, altitude 4,000 to 8,000 feet, 
from Hazara to Slkklm ascending to 9,000 feet, and Bhotan; 
Khasia mountains, altitude 5,000 to 6,000 feet." (Hooker, 
Flora of British India, Vol.. 2, p. 323.) 
Prunus spp. (Amygdalaceae.) 42439-42440. Seeds from 
Petrograd , Russia. Collected by Miss Zinaida ab Minkwitz In 
Turkestan in 1914, and presented by Dr. A. Fischer de Wald- 
heim, Director, Imperial Botanic Gardens. 42439, P. pros- 
tata Lablll., mountain cherry. 42440, P. spinosissima (Bunge) 
Franch. , wild almond. 
