1067 
bryo located some distance above this point. Prom a 
practical standpoint, v the amy cannot be considered 
of great value, inasmuch as the flesh is scanty in 
quantity. If it were more abundant, its excellent 
flavor would make the fruit of great value. The fruit 
falls to the ground while still hard, and requires 
two or three days to soften and be in condition for' 
eating. The seeds germinate on the ground beneath the 
trees, and the young plants start off lustily. The 
larva of some insects, presumably a beetle, attacks 
the fallen fruits, and tunnels through the seeds. 
Very few fruits were found on the ground which had not 
been attacked in this manner. The remarkable simi- 
larity which this species bears to the cultivated avo 
cado, and the fact that its fruit is edible and is 
used by the natives, makes it a subject of particular 
interest in connection with the study of the cultivat- 
ed avocados. It is to be hoped that specimens can be 
reared and fruited in the United States. The region 
where the tree is found lies at an elevation of about 
1200 feet, and is quite moist. On this account, it 
seems doubtful if the amy will succeed in California. 
It might be tried in the most protected localities. 
In south Florida its chances of success seem good." 
(Popenoe.) 
Pinus merkusii Jungh. & DeVriese. (Pinaceae.) 43462. 
Seeds of a pine from Buitenzorg, Java. Presented by 
the Director, Botanic Gardens. This tree, which is 
the only pine found south of the equator, attains a 
height of 100 feet, and forms a flat, umbrella-like 
crown. It is found in Burma, Borneo, Sumatra and 
the Philippines, chiefly at elevations of 3000 to 4000 
feet. The leaves are in clusters of two, the cones 
are usually In pairs, and the seeds are small, much 
shorter than the unequal-sided wing. The wood is very 
resinous, and the trunks are used for masts and spars. 
(Adapted from Brandis, Indian Trees., p. 691, and from 
von Mueller, Select Extra-Tropical Plants, 393, 394.) 
Piptadenia exeeha (Griseb.) Lillo. (Mimosaceae . ) 
43458. Seeds from Argentina. Collected by Mr. H. M. 
Curran. An unarmed tree, almost 100 feet high, with 
15 to 20 pairs of leaflets in each leaf, and spikes 
of flowers two or three inches long. The pods are 
linear. The rather thin bark Is not used in tanning 
as the other species. The rosy wood, which resembles 
that of Piptadenia maeroearpa, is tough and straight- 
