JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBEE 30, 1925 11

64557. OMPHALEA OLEIFERA H e m s 1. 64560 to 64565—Continued. Euphorbiaceae. years ago. The stout stems, about 2 From Moyuta, Guatemala. Seeds pre- feet high, are one or two-headed, and the flowers are borne in clusters of two sented by Francisco Morcucci. Received or three. The standards are bright lilac, July 27, 1925. about 3 inches long, and the falls are This Central American tree, known in flushed with yellow in the center. In- Guatemala as palo de queso and hoja de troduced for iris breeders. queso, is called tambor in Salvador, accord- ing to Standley (Pharmaceutical Journal, 64566. BAUHINIA ESCULENTA Burchell. vol. 110, p. 489). The main value of the Caesalpiniaceae. tree lies in the fruit and seeds. From the latter is obtained an oil with the same From Kirstenbosch, Cape Province, Union properties as castor oil, but with an agree- of South Africa. Seeds presented by R. able flavor. This oil is also used for mak- II. Compton, director, National Botanic ing- soap, for illumination, and in cooking. Garden. Received July 27, 1925. The immature fruits when boiled are said The " Tamani berry " or " Gemsbok to have an excellent flavor, and the ripe bean," native to South Africa, is described seeds are eaten as a delicacy. in the Journal of the Department of Agri- culture of the Union of South Africa (vol. 64558. VlROLA G U A T E M A L E N S I S 8, p. 613) as a leguminous plant whose seeds form the staple diet of the Kalahari (Hemsl.) Warburg. Myristicaceae. bushmen ; animals are also very fond of From San Antonio Sachitepequez, Guate- the seeds, which are excellent for fattening. mala. Seeds presented by Jorge G. Salas. The seed kernels are rich in protein and director general de agricultura, City of oil, the latter resembling cottonseed oil. Guatemala. Received July 27, 1925. 64567. SACCHAEUM OFFICINARUM L. A Central American tree which, accord- ing to O. Warburg (Monographie der Poaceae. Sugar cane. Myristicaceen, p. 220), bears fruits which From Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba. Cut- yield a valuable oil. The natives of Guate- tings presented by Gonzalo M. Fortfm, mala collect the oil for making soap and director, Estacion Experimental Ag- candles. ronomica, through E. W. Brandes, Bureau of Plant Industry. Received August 7, 64559. PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L. Myrta- 1925. ceae. Guava. A locally grown strain. From Victoria. Cameroon, West Africa. Seeds presented by F. J. Evans. Re- 64568 to 64586. ceived July 27, 1925. From China. Seeds collected by F. A. Mc- Clure, agricultural explorer, Bureau of An exceptionally good white variety. Plant Industry. Received July 28, 1925. (Evans.) Notes by Mr. McClure. 64560 to 64565. 64568. MYRICA RUBRA Sieb. and Zucc. From Kenitra, Morocco. Seeds presented Myricaceae. by Gaston Durand, inspecteur d'agricul- No. 168. Shuisaits'uen. Lohkongtiing. ture. Received July 27, 1925. May 23, 1925. Yeung mui. This is a very handsome tree, averaging 5 or 6 64560. ANCHUSA UNDULATA L. Boragina- meters in height, with dark-green glossy ceae. foliage which sets oft" to fine advantage A hardy perennial, about 2 feet high, the bright-red to pink fruits. The fruits with panicled clusters of purple flowers. are globular in shape and quite acid in It is native to Spain and thrives best flavor. Owing to their fragility and pe- in sunny locations. culiar structure they do not ship well, but small leafy branches distributed 64561. LAVATERA sp. Malvaceae. among them as they are placed in the baskets are said to protect them some- A number of lavateras have very what. The fresh fruits are too soft to showy flowers, sometimes 2 to 4 inches appeal to the Chinese palate, and they across, and variously colored. They are are used for the most part in much the either herbaceous or shrubby and mostly same manner as the Tsing mui (Pi'unus native to the Mediterranean countries. mume), that is, salted and dried. 64562. MALCOMIA LITTOREA Ait. Brassi- 64569 to 64582. PRUNUS MUME Sieb. and caceae. Zucc. Amygdalaceae. Japanese apricot, An annual branching plant, a foot or Tsing mui. Tho fruits of this group less in height, with large showy pink-pur-1 are so sour that they are rarely eaten ple flowers in loose racemes. It is native fresh. The mo. t common method of to the western Mediterranean countries. treatment is to place them in large 64563. MALOPE sp. Malvaceae. wooden vats having a capacity of nearly 400 cubic feet, with salt at the rate of Those are showy annuals belonging to 1.3 pounds of salt to 10 pounds of fruit. the mallow family, all native to the By means of mats and stones the fruits Mediterranean region. In height they are weighted down and kept in this con- range from 1 to 3 feet, and the flower's dition for 10 days or so. They are then are violet, pink, or white. spread out on bamboo trays and dried in the sun. When dry they are white with 64564. TRIFOLIUM sp. Fabaceae. Clover. an incrustation of salt. They may be kept indefinitely in this condition so'long 64565. IRIS TINGITANA Boiss. and Reut. as they are kept dry. They are used by Iridaceae. confectioners to make a great variety An iris originally discovered in the of confections, most of which have as vicinity of Tangiers, Morocco, whence it their chief flavoring principles licorice was introduced into cultivation several and saccharine.