975 
Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet. (Bignoniaceae . ) 42202. 
Seeds from the Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona. Collected by 
Dr. David Griffiths. "This is a willow-like small tree in- 
habiting desert washes from Texas to California. It is 
very showy when in blossom, the flowers being purplish 
tinged and resembling those of a miniature catalpa. In 
nature its habit is quite open and lax, but it stands prun- 
ing and can easily be shaped as desired. The seed can prob- 
ably be planted in the open in a situation where there is 
good drainage and where moisture conditions can be con- 
trolled when the hot, dry season arrives." (Griffiths.) 
Comus bretschneideri Henry. (Cornaceae.) 42188. Seeds 
from Kew, England. Presented by Sir David Prain, Director, 
Royal Botanic Gardens.. A Chinese Cornus , with the young 
wood blood red, which succeeds well as far north as Roch- 
ester, New York. The flowers In dense cymes and fruit black. 
Cymbopetalum penduliflorum (Dun. ) Baillon. (Annona- 
ceae.) 42047. Seeds from Guatemala. Presented by Mr. Stuart 
K. Lupton, American Consul, Guatemala City. "Sacred ear 
flower, or orejuela, as it is locally known. These petals 
and seeds were obtained through the kindness of Mr. R. S. 
Anderson, an American resident in Coban, Guatemala." (Lup- 
ton.) See article by Mr. W. E. Safford on this plant, 
Smithsonian Report 1910, p. 427-431. 
Dasylirion wheeleri S. Wats. (Llliaceae.) 42203. Sotol 
s^eed collected by Dr. David Griffiths. "The sotol is on 
the whole a rather stiff, formal plant of the yucca family, 
It has a short, thick trunk, long, narrow, flat, spiny- 
edged, gracefully-drooping leaves, very different in this 
respect from the stiff, rigid century plants which are not 
distant relatives. It does not sucker like the century 
plants, neither does the plant die when it has thrown up a 
flower stalk, thus leaving an ugly break in the planting. 
Its flower stalks are immense. They often reach a height 
of 8 or 10 feet, the myriads of small flowers occupying a 
solid, spindle-shaped space 4 feet in length. The plant 
itself, with its glaucous graceful leaves, is handsome, but 
it is strikingly attractive from early blossoming until 
late winter after the mass of seed has fallen. They are 
most attractive as specimen plants. In Mexico the leaves 
are stripped of their curved teeth by being pulled through 
a slit cut in a piece of tin and then woven into a durable 
floor covering, the ones which I have seen lasting in good 
condition for a couple of years under ordinary wear.. The 
usual practice is for the weaver to enter the house with 
an armful of the leaves suitably stained, begin in one 
corner of the room and weave a mat to fit the floor, com- 
posing the design as he proceeds. The price is usually 
