1070 
product of this tree. The wood is whiter than that of 
Quebracho Colorado of Chaco. (Adapted from Mell, Forestry 
Circular 202, on Quebracho Wood, and from Lillo, 
Contr. Arboles Argentina, p. 3.) 
Sicana odorifera (Veil.) Naudin. (Cucurbitaceae . ) 
43427. Seeds from Mazatenango, Guatemala. Collected 
by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorer. "A pe- 
culiar melon called here melocoton (peach) . It is not 
commonly cultivated, and is only occasionally seen in 
the market. It is cylindrical, a foot in length, 
about four inches in diameter, with a smooth surface 
shining black in color. On cutting the melon in halves 
lengthwise, one finds a narrow zone of flesh next the 
skin, and the rest of the space occupied principally 
by seeds, which resemble considerably those of the 
watermelon. The flavor is rather strong, and suggests 
that of a canteloupe. Not to be recommended for cul- 
tivation as a comestible, but may be of interest to 
those studing the cucurbits." (Popenoe.)' 
Simaba eedron Plane hon. (Simaroubaceae . ) Seeds of 
Cedron from Cristobal, Canal Zone. Presented by Mr. 0. 
W. Barrett. "Mr. Sandberg believes these nuts are 
high in tannic acid content and also possess some good 
medicinal qualities since they are used in several 
native remedies about here. The tree reaches some 15 
to 25 feet in height and bears great quantities of 
these brownish fruits consisting of the large seed and < 
a layer, 5 to 15 mm. thick, of reddish yellow flesh, 
bitter and acrid." (Barrett.) A short, erect, grace- 
ful tree with a trunk about six inches in diameter, 
and large, alternate, pinnate leaves, composed of 20 
or more pairs of leaflets. The white flowers occur 
in long racemes, similar to those of S. trichttioides. The 
oval fruits, which are 6 cm. (2| inches) long, are 
edible. A bitter principle is found throughout the 
plant, but only the seeds are used medicinally. These 
seeds are intensely bitter, and are used as a remedy 
for snake bite, hydrophobia, and in treating fevers 
and dysentery. If more than 25 or 30 grains are given 
in a single dose, death may result. This tree is 
found in Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica. (Adapted 
from Heraud, Nouveau Dictionnaire des Plantes Medi- 
cinales, pp. 563-565, and from Planchon, in Hooker's 
Journal of Botany, vol. 5, p. 566.) 
