BULLETIN A NEW ANTIDESMA FROM might be from another variety of this interesting tree, for when I compared INDONESIA the with the colored illustra- By DAVID FAIRCHILD tions of Antidesma Buriius in Dr. J. J. HERE IS so much interest Ochse's book on the "Fruits of Neth- these days in the delicious erlands India" I found they were dis- jelly made of Antidesma tinctly different. bunius fruits that I think it This was in March of 1940. How may be worth while to tell of a new, little I dreamed that a tree grown distinct variety, one that may even be from one of those seeds would be the a distinct species, that has fruited first thing I would show on our own here on The Kampong. Kampong in Florida to my friend This is Number 259 of the Fair- Ochse after his arrival to be Profes- child Garden Expedition. It has sor of Tropical Economic Botany in grown from seed I collected on March the University of Miami. How could I 16, 1940, in the market at Bangka- dream that while it was growing into lang, a little village in the island of a handsome tree and bearing quan- Madoera which lies just East of Java. tities of berries which the bluejays I was recovering from a bad cut on took a great fancy to, the whole pic- my leg, which I got by falling down ture of the Great East would change the aft hatch of the yacht Cheng Ho politically; that Japanese warriors during the fire that broke out on her would sweep over it, to be chased off as we were coasting along the shore again in their turn; that Dr. Ochse of northern Celebes. We had come to and his family would spend years in Soerabaya to have her engines re- a prison camp and that Java would paired, and while waiting there, and become a Republic! I cannot now hold before I was able to get out much, a its thick dark in my hand or friend of Captain Kilkenny, Miss Van- hold up one of its bunches of in nin Manx, offered to motor me over the sunlight without seeing the con- the island of Madoera for a glimpse fused picture of the events which fol- of its fascinating culture. We only lowed that visit to Bankalang seven spent the day there but I wished it years ago. could have been much longer, for the This new form of Antidesma has soil being strongly calcareous sug- denser foliage, of a much thicker tex- gested that the grown there ture than the ones we already knew. might do well in our limestone soils Its fruits are rounder and on longer here. pedicels and the clusters are more As I poked about in the markets of compact. The whole little tree has a the villages trying to identify the distinctive character which I am un- amazing variety of fruits and vege- able to describe. tables which are always on show in I have only one seedling from the them, my eye caught sight of a bam- many seeds I sent in, and the fruits boo tray covered with Antidesma it produces are larger than those I fruits. Naturally, I recognized them, bought in the market. This fact re- but they struck me as being some- minds me that my original tree from how different from those of my tree the Philippines and another received on The Kampong; the fruits were somewhat later from the same place smaller and more crowded - on the have fruits that differ slightly in form, stem. and one of them ripens much later I sent a little note with the seeds than the other. I think that if anyone Marian cleaned and packed for the would a thousand seeds of this Air Post saying that I thought they — Continued on Page 7 BULLETIN

PLANT DISTRIBUTION (Continued from Page 6) OME OF the plants given to Antidesma he might very likely get Garden members at the an- some striking and much finer seed- nual Plant Distribution were lings. as follows: "Just why are you so interested in the Antidesma?" I am often asked. CEREUS PERUVIANUS: One of And my reply is that the tree is a the most satisfactory plants of its kind shapely, handsome one, not too large for South Florida. Bears greenish- for any dooryard; its dark-green leaves white and large bright red are glossy and shine in the sun and in fruits. summer it is very gay with its COPERNICIA BAILEYANA: A bunches of fruit, first green, then handsome fan palm native of Cuba. white, then brilliant red and later a Is of slow growth. Related to the dull black. When the berries are palms from which automobile wax is black they are not only good to eat obtained. right off the tree, but the brilliant ERYTHRINA: Coral tree. May red juice makes the excellent jelly grow to large size. Sheds leaves in which, largely through the efforts of winter and bears showy red flowers Mrs. Helen E. Letchworth, has be- when bare of leaves. Native of West- come popular under the name of An- ern South America. tidesma Jelly! The story of the rise SCHEFFLERI: Queensland Um- of the Antidesma Jelly is told in Occa- brella tree. Has beautiful long sional Paper No. 6 of the Fairchild of blood-red flowers at top of tree in Tropical Garden. summer. Rather tender. And now, with this other promising UNDET FAN PALM: The "huano" Antidesma growing here, we have palm of Yucatan used for thatching another step in our knowledge of this roofs of Maya houses. Resembles na- remarkable genus of fruit trees, out tive Florida cabbage palm. of which may come who knows what CHAMAEDOREA TEPITILOTE: new flavors. When some enterprising Solitary, pinnate leaved, shade loving person takes up their study we may palm to 10 ft. Trunk closely ringed get new jellies which will compete with swollen joints. with the best of the northern ones we LIVISTONA DECIPIENS: Small became acquainted with in our child- fan-leaved palm from . hood — those of us Northerners who blades 2-5 feet across. Easily confused have emigrated into south Florida. with the Sabals, hence its specific I recommend this Plant Immigrant name, decipiens meaning deceptive. from the island of Madoera to the PHOENIX ROEBELENIL Small members of the Fairchild Garden suckering type Phoenix from Cochin, Association who have a place for a China. beautiful small tree in their yards. If CAPPARIS FLEXUOSA: Bay-leav- they are fond of Antidesma jelly they ed caper tree. Very decorative small can gather the fruits, if not, they can evergreen tree. Covered in spring leave them for the bluejays and other with small white flowers having num- birds to feast upon. erous long . CASSIA RENIGERA: Small tree to PITTOSPORUM PENTANDRUM: 25 feet. Evergreen compound leaves. Tree to 60 feet, but usually shrubby. Large pannicles of pink flowers in Small white fragrant flowers. Frs. spring. showy clusters of orange berries.