928 
Peru. Though apparently less popular than the Oca and Ul- 
lucu, the Anyu has one important advantage over all the 
Peruvian root-crops, inoludlng the potato, In Its keeping 
qualities. Specimens collected in the district of Sicuani 
on April 9th were kept for three months at Olla'ntaytambo, 
and then brought back to Washington, and were still in good 
condition the middle of September. This means that the 
Anyu tubers would be very easy to handle commercially 
in case they should prove to be of use in the United States. 
In Peru they are eaten like potatoes, papa lisas, and ocas, 
chiefly in the form of soups. The Anyu plant is a rather 
close relative of another Peruvian species, Tropaeolum. 
majus , a familiar ornamental cultivated in the United 
States under the name Nasturtium. Hybrids between these 
two species might be of interest as affording a possibility 
of securing ornamental varieties that could be propagated 
from tubers. The flowers of T. tuberosum are not so large 
as those of T. majus and do not open so widely, but in 
other' respedts the general appearance is much the same. 
Experimental plantings of Anyus should be made in the, ele- 
vated districts of the southwestern states, arid along the 
Pacific Coast. In comparison with potatoes there appear 
to be very few varieties of Anyus." {Cook.) 
TIllucus tuberosus Caldas. (Basellaceae . ) 41177-84, 
41194, 41196. Tubers of 9 varieties of Ullucu from Peru 
and Bolivia. Presented by Mr. 0. F. Cook. "The Ullucu or 
Papa lisa is a root-crop, raised generally in the highlands 
of Peru and Bolivia, in the regions where potatoes are 
grown.. The tubers have a remarkably close resemblance to 
potatoes, except that the skins are smoother and the colors 
brighter, running from white through various intermediate 
shades to deep yellows and reds. There are also spotted 
varieties, white and pink or light yellow and pink. Judg- 
ing from its representive in the native markets, \ the papa 
lisa ranks next to the potato in popular favor in Peru, be- 
ing used largely in the making of soups, which is the prin- 
cipal branch of the culinary art among the Indians. The 
flavor of the papa lisa is peculiar, and usually not at- 
tractive to the unaccustomed palate. But being one of the 
plants that accompany the potato in Peru, it may not be 
without Interest to observe its behavior in the United 
States. The tubers are produced in abundance and if the 
plant should be found to grow readily the possibilities of 
utilization should be carefully studied-. The plant Is a 
relative of the so-called Madeira vine, familiar in culti- 
vation as an ornamental climber. A wild Ullucu, common in 
the region of Sicuani, is very similar to the Madeira vine 
but the plants of the cultivated varieties do not attain 
a length of more than two or three feet. The general ap- 
pearance and habit of growth are also somewhat like those 
of the sweet potato." (Cook.) 
