1205 
leaflets. The flowers, which are produced in clusters 
of considerable size, are of a deep lilac color and 
quite attractive. In form they resemble the flowers 
of the common pea, but are smaller, being about half 
an inch broad. The shrub seems well worthy of trial 
in California and Florida." (Popenoe.) 
Ixerba brexioides Cunningham. (Escalloniaceae . ) 44955. 
Tawari seeds from Auckland, New Zealand. Presented by 
Mr. H. R. Wright, Avondale Nursery. A beautiful ever- 
green tree, sometimes 70 feet tall, with thick, leath- 
ery, coarsely serrate leaves 3 to 7 inches long, and 
very handsome waxy, white flowers 1| inches wide, 
borne in flat panicles. It is a native of New Zea- 
land, where it is not common; and is considered by 
some to' be the most beautiful tree indigenous to that 
country. (Adapted from Laing and Blackwell, Plants 
of New Zealand, pp. 186, 188.) 
Musa paradisiaea seminifera (Lour.) Baker. (Musaceae.) 
45007. Plantain seeds from Nice, Prance. Presented by 
Dr. A. Robertson Proschowsky. A wild,, seed-bearing 
plantain having small, oblong, greenish fruits full 
of seed. These fruits are about a third of the size 
of the common banana; and have a pleasant taste, al- 
though encumbered by numerous seeds. The plant is 
quite ornamental; and as it is hardier than the com- 
mon banana it might be possible, by selection or hy- 
bridization, to extend the range of banana culture. 
(Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horti- 
culture, vol. 4, p. 2079, and from letter of Dr. A. 
Robertson Proschowsky » June 30, 1917.) 
Pankum decomposition R. Brown. (Poaceae.) 45040. 
Seeds from Burringbar, New South Wales, Australia. 
Presented by Mr. B. Harrison. A tall, coarse, suc- 
culent, semi-aquatic grass, cultivated in many parts 
of Australia as a forage crop. It produces an abun- 
dance of forage, and is greatly relished by stock. 
It has yielded, under cultivation, as much as 3 tons 
of hay per acre. The seeds are produced in December 
and January. (Adapted from J. H. Maiden, Useful Na- 
tive Plants of Australia, pp. 97, 98.) 
Persea sp. (Lauraceae.) 44996. Seeds from Guate- 
mala. Collected by Mr. Wilson Popenoe, of this Bureau. 
"(No. 152a. From the Chuacus mountains, near Rincon 
Grande, about 5 miles from Salama, at an approximate 
