L Ib H A H T RECEIVED MAR 1 19' UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF , Ai rionlti] r INVENTORY No. 87 Washington, D. C. T Issued February, 1929 PLANT MATERIAL INTRODUCED BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN PUNT INTRODUCTION, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, APRIL 1 TO JUNE 30, 1926 (NOS. 66699 TO 67836) CONTENTS Pag* Introductory statement - 1< Inventory - 3 Index of common and scientific names— .-._. „. ,. — 49 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT agricultural explorers were carrying on their investigations in foreign lands during the three-month period represented by this eighty-seventh inventory. David Fairchild, in company with P. H. Dorsett, made an extended tour along the northern coast of Sumatra and also spent some time in Java and Ceylon. Their itinerary included the Sibolangit Botanic Garden, near Medan, Sumatra, and the Hakgala Botanic Garden, Newara Eliya, Ceylon. The material collected came from these botanic gardens, from the markets of the native villages visited, and from the wild. It consisted for the most part of fruit-bearing plants, ornamentals, and leguminous plants of possible value as cover crops for the warmer parts of the United States. Breeders of small fruits will be interested in the numerous species of Rubus (Nos. 67592 to 67604; 67728 to 67740) obtained mostly in Sumatra. Sev- eral species of Ficus (Nos. 67557 to 67570; 67696 to 67705) from Sumatra will be tested in southern Florida, where already a number of these wild figs have proved popular as shade trees. F. A. McClure continued to work in the general vicinity of Can- ton, China, collecting plant material largely from the native markets of the neighboring villages. At one small place in the Lungtau Mountains he obtained seeds of the Faan kwa cushaw (Cucurbita moschata, No. 66735). A previous introduction (No. 54427), also from the vicinity of Canton, showed this to be an excellent variety of cushaw, producing large fruits of good quality and flavor. Mr. McClure also collected rhizomes of several bamboos, mostly belong- ing to the genus Phyllostachys (Nos. 66781 to 66789; 66900 to 66902; '67398, 67399), a number of which furnish edible young shoots. 1581*—S9 — J I PLANT MATERIAL INTRODUCED Through the courtesy of the Institute of Applied Botany, Lenin- grad, Russia, the department received an interesting shipment of seeds of Russian plants (Nosi 67649 to 67668), consisting of locally developed varieties of cucurbitaceous vegetables from widely sepa- rated parts of the country. From the little-known island of Tasmania were received seeds of several native ornamental shrubs and herbaceous perennials not, previously introduced through this office (Nos. 67805 to 67834)., Among these may be mentioned Cyathodes divaricata (No. 67812), a juniperlike shrub with rigid branches and leaves and white flowers, on recurved stems; also three species of everlasting (Elichrysum, spp.; Nos. 67814 to 67816), erect evergreen shrubs with very narrow leaves and showy flower clusters. Somewhat similar in nature to* the Tasmanian shipment is a collection of shrubs sent in from South, Australia (Nos. 67067 to 67087). Most of these are new to Amer- ican horticulture. The collection includes 10 species of Melaleuca (Nos. 67077 to 67086); these are said to be drought resistant, and many have showy flowers. The botanical determinations of these introductions have been made and the nomenclature determined by H. C. Skeels, and the- descriptive matter has been prepared under the direction of Paul Russell, who has had general supervision of this inventory. KNOWLES A. RYERSON, Senior Horticulturist, in Charge^ OFFICE OF FOREIGN PLANT INTRODUCTION, Washington, D. C, July 1,1928. INVENTORY1 66699. BURIO ZIBETHINUS Murr. 66702. CITRUS GRANDIS (L.) Osbeck Bombacaceae. Durian. (C. decumana Murr.). Rutaceae. From Java. Seeds obtained by David Fairchild, Grapefruit. agricultural explorer, Bureau of Plant Industry, From Los Banos, Philippine Islands. Seeds pre- with the Allison V. Armour expedition. Re- sented by J. D. Bagarino, through W. T. ceived June 28, 1926. Swingle, Bureau of Plant Industry. Received No. 787. Seeds from a durian obtained at the April 1, 1926. market in Soerabaya, May 17, 1926. According to Macmillan (Handbook of Tropical Gardening and A Philippine variety. Planting), this is a very large, handsome pyramid- shaped tree, native to the Malay Archipelago, and 66703. LILIUM sp. Liliaceae. Lily. commonly cultivated [in the Straits Settlements, Burma, Java, etc.], for the sake of its celebrated From Canton, China. Bulbs collected by F. A. fruit. The latter, produced on the older branches, McClure, agricultural explorer, Bureau of Plant varies somewhat from round to oval in shape, and Industry. Received April 2,1926. usually weighs from 5 to 7 pounds, though some- No. 343. These bulbs were obtained from the times as much as 10 pounds. It is armed with wild at the foot of the Lungtaushan, January 9, thickly set formidable prickles about one-half inch 1926. Paak hop fa. The white flowers are borne long; when ripe it becomes slightly yellow and on stems 1 to 1.5 meters high. has an offensive odor. The cream-colored pulp surrounds the seed in the edible portion; this is most highly prized by the Malays and other ori- 66704. PASPALUM NOTATUM Flueggeu ental races and is also relished by the Europeans Poaceae. Grass. who acquire a taste for it. The large seeds may be roasted and eaten like chestnuts. Durian fruits From San Jose, Costa Rica. Seeds purchased from are variable in size, shape, flavor, and quantity of J. Alfredo Quiros. Received April 6, 1926. pulp, according to variety. The trees also vary in A perennial grass which has shown promise as a productiveness, some varieties being almost barren. pasture grass in the southern United States; now Selection and high cultivation should therefore be introduced for further testing in that region. practiced, in order to obtain the best fruits. The tree is readily propagated by seed if sown fresh. For previous introduction see No. 62049. The large fleshy seed is of short vitality and germi- nates in seven to eight days. 66705. SALPICHROA RHOMBOIDEA (Gill- For previous introduction see No. 45179. and Hook.) Miers. Solanaceae. From Buenos Aires, Argentina. Seeds presented 66700 and 66701. MEDIC AGO SATIVA by Dr. Carlos L. Thays, director, botanic garden. L. Fabaceae. Alfalfa. Received April 3, 1926. From Sable, Sarthe, France. Seeds obtained from An ornamental relative of the tomato, with A. Coutard, through H. L. Westover, Bureau white flowers and edible white transparent berries of Plant Industry. Received April 1, 1926. which resemble the pineapple in flavor. Because French-grown varieties. of its attractive appearance and creeping habit it is very effective for trellises and arbors. Native to 66700. From Provence. Argentina. 66701. From Sarthe. For previous introduction see No. 55478. 1 It should be understood that the names of horticultural varieties of fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other plants used in this inventory are those under which the material was received when introduced by the Office of Foreign Plant Introduction, and, further, that the printing of such names here does not con- stitute their official publication and adoption in this,country. As the different varieties are studied, their entrance into the American trade forecast, and the use of varietal names for them in American literature becomes necessary, the foreign varietal designations appearing in this inventory will be subject to change with a view to bringing the forms of the names into harmony with recognized horticultural nomenclature. It is a well-known fact that botanical descriptions, both technical and economic, seldom mention the seeds at all and rarely describe them in such a way as to make possible identification from the seeds alone. Many of the unusual plants listed in these inventories are appearing in this country for the first time, and there are no seed samples or herbarium specimens with ripe seeds with which the new arrivals may be compared. The only identification possible is to see that the sample received resembles seeds of other species of the same genus or of related genera. The responsibility for the specific identifications therefore must necessarily often rest with the person sending the material. If there is any question regarding the correctness of the identification of any plant received from this office, herbarium specimens of leaves and flow erf should be sent in so that definite identification can be made. i PLANT MATEKIAL INTRODUCED 66706. PISUM SATIVUM L. Fabaceae 66724 to 66728. Pea From Pretoria, Union of South Africa. Cuttings From Socorro, New Mexico. Seeds presented by presented by I. B. Pole Evans, chief, division B. R. Britton. Received April 3, 1926. of botany, Department of Agriculture, through Eugene May, Bureau of Plant Industry. Re- A variety originally imported from Sweden, ceived April 12, 1926. larger than those now grown in the San Luis Valley Colo. (Britton.) 66724. CARALLUMA LEENDERTZIAE N. E. Brown. Asclepiadaceae. 66707 to 66713. ORYZA SATIVA L. PO- A dwarf fleshy plant, native to South Africa- aceae. Rice. with thick stems about 4 inches high, and dark, purple flowers 2 inches wide in few-flowered From Valencia, Spain. Seeds presented by Cle- umbels. mente Cerda. Received April 6, 1926. 68725. HUERNIA LOESENERIANA Schlechter. 66707. Benlloc. From Ribera Alta. Asclepiadaceae. 66708. Benlloc. From Ribera Baja. A dwarf fleshy perennial with square stems 66709. Nano. From Jativa. an inch or two long and bell-shaped, brownish purple flowers about an inch across, borne near 66710. Benlloc Pla. the bases of the young stems. Native to dry regions in the Transvaal. 66711. Muga. 66712. Mil Seiscientos. 66726 to 66728. STAPELIA spp. Asclepiadaceae. 86726. STAPELIA GETTLEFFII R. Pott. 68713. Bomba. A low, fleshy South African plant with 66714. CANNA INDICA L. Cannaceae. erect four-angled stems 8 to 10 inches high and one to three greenish yellow and purple From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.