L. IBRARY R EC El V ED. UNITED STATES MMRIMENT « INVENTORY No. 88 Washington, D.C. T Issued April, 1929 PLANT MATERIAL INTRODUCED BY THE OFFICE OF FOREIGN PLANT INTRODUCTION, BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY, JULY 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30,1926 (NOS. 67837 TO 68955) CONTENTS Page Introductory statement . 1 Inventory 3 Index of common and scientific names 48 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT The plant material received during the summer months of 1926 •covers a wide ranga of material from diverse parts of the world. Collections from tbfc East Indies, made by David Fairchild, included additional cover:«md green-manure crops (Nos. 67838 to 67847) fpr testing in comparison with legumes previously introduced from this region. A pink-fleshed grape:6rtiit {Citrus grcm(MsrJSo. 67980) with flesh reported to be so dry that the follicles can be broken from one another and eaten from the hand was also obtained. Many tropic*! und subtropical trees, shrubs, and fruits (Nos. 67932 to 67941, 67982 to 67985, 67994 to 67996, 68015 to 68040, 68151 to 68153, 68295 to •68298) were included in Doctor Fairchild's collection. , ; I\ JL Dorsett continued to collect field crops and misee]d^$eous native trees and ornamental shrubs in Manchuria. Hi$ introduc- tions are represented by Nos. 67992, 68001 to 68014, 68404 to 68414, and 68420 to 68825. The greater part of these were soy-bean varie- ties which already, in preliminary tests in the United States, show .great promise. ' ' F. A. McClure, continuing his work in southernOhirray sent in a large number of varieties of rice and vegetables (Nos. 68361 to "68403, 68867 to 68907, 68913 to 68948). From the Institute of Applied Botany, at Leningrad, through A. Kol, was received a good collection of seeds of field crops and miscellaneous j)lantf# (Nos. -68054 to 68104, 68171 to 68177). Other seeds from Russia are repre- sented by Nos. 68180 to 68293, wheat and barley, and Nos. 68158 to -68169, Iris spp. The collection of iris from Asia Minor (Iris spp., JKTos. 67909 to 67921) is deserving of special mention. 4558—29 1 2 PLANT MATEKIAL INTRODUCED Attention is called to M<wadamia> ternifolia (No. 67883) and also to the attempt to introduce a related species with a larger nut, M. preaita (No. 67882). QThe horticultural possibilities of M. ternifolia make it appe&i* desirable to encourage the planting of this species as specimen trees for homeyartls and also for avenue and street purposes in the warmer portions of the country. In this way su- perior horticultural varieties may be selected from such seedling plantings. M. ternifolia is a very fine specimen and avenue tree, and the fact that it is an evergreen makes it serviceable in places where such trees arte preferred. Thin-shelled varieties are known to exist in Australia as individual trees, and to find such a variety is one of the objectives of large plantings in this country. Attention perhaps should be called to the fact that the area having climatic conditions suitable to species of Macadamia is limited and somewhat more restricted than in the case of citrus plants. However, more hardy strains than the ones already introduced may yet be found. While M. prealta is less well known than M. ternifolia and not yet established in the United States, its large nut makes it seem worth special attention by further introductions and subsequent testing. The introduction of Pentzia incana under No. 67880 should again call attention to this shrub as a possible asset to the dry range area of the southwestern United States from the Panhandle of Texas south to the Rio Grande and west to the Pacific coast. It is the well- known k&roo bush of the pasture lands of South Africa and affords the best dry-land reserve feed in that region. It is essentially a sheep browse and is reputed to be responsible for the fine quality of wool shipped from Africa. If it can be successfully established in our Southwest it should be a great feed insurance for drought years. Other plants in this inventory that should be specifically men- tioned on account of the results with previous introductions or their promise as indicated by their behavior in their original homes are Telopea speciosissima (No. 68912), Caiopogonium mucunoides (No. 68845), AraoMs nambyquarae (Nos. 68830 and 68831), Popvikm maxi- mowiczii (No. 68170), and Myoporum sandwichensis (No. 68157) » The Myoporum is suggested for special testing in windy and ex- posed areas along ocean fronts where a mild climate prevails. 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 16,1928. INVENTORY1 €7837 to 67847. 67837 to 67847—Continued. From Buitenzorg, Java. Seeds obtained by 67841. CRACCA NOCTIFLORA (Bojer) Kuntze David Fairchild, agricultural explorer, (Tephrosia noctiflora Bojer). Fabaceae. Bureau of Plant Industry, with the Alli- No. 796. A bushy brown-hairy legumi- son V. Armour expedition. Received July nous plant which is used as a cover crop. 27, 1926. It has compound leaves about 4 inches The following seeds were obtained at the long and lax terminal racemes of reddish tea experiment station, Buitenzorg, May 22, flowers which open late in the afternoon. 1926. Native to tropical Africa. 67837. ACACIA VILLOSA (Swartz) Willd. 67842. CROTALARIA ALATA Buch.-Ham. Fa- Mimosaceae. baceae. No. 803. A native of Venezuela which is used in Java for the same purpose as No. 805. A bushy annual leguminous Leucaena glauca; that is, as a shade for plant, about a foot high, with pale- field crops, and is preferred because of yellow flowers; suitable for use as a its slower growth. It is said to be used cover crop. in the teak forest plantings as a perma- For previous introduction see No. nent leguminous undersnrub to add nitro- 51832. gen and humus to the soil. 67843. CROTALARIA USARAMOENSIS Baker For previous introduction see No. f. Fabaceae. 44865. T No. 804. One of the less important 67838. ALYSICARPUS VAGINALIS NUMMU- cover crops. A leguminous plant which LAKIFOLIUS (L.) Baker. Fabaceae., forms a dense low growth and endures No. 808. A low creeping annual le- partial shade. gume. For previous introduction see No. For previous introduction see No. 64064. 33640. 67844. INDTGOFERA BNDECAPHYLLA Jacq. 67839. BRADBURYA PUBESCENS (Benth.) Kuntze (Centrosema pubescens Benth.) Fabaceae. Fabaceae. Butterfly pea. No. 809. A native of southern British No. 806. A climbing tropical American India, which is considered one of the annual legume of great value in Java as best cover crops used in Java on the a cover crop, having roots which pene- tea estates. It roots from the inter- trate 11% feet into the soil in one year's nodes, as well as from the nodes, and time. stands drought well. For previous introduction see No. For previous introduction see No. 65315. 63605. 67840. CRACCA CANDIDA (DC.) Kuntze 67845. INDIGOFERA SUFFRUTICOSA Mill. (/. (Tephrosia Candida DC). Fabaceae. anil L.). Fabaceae. No. 799. A low leguminous shrub with No. 807. A slender yellow-flowered slender branches and large clusters of bushy legume, 3 to 5 feet high, produc- reddish or white flowers, which is used as ing a rather scanty growth, which is not a cover crop. considered one of the best cover crops. For previous introduction see No. For previous introduction see No. 60642. 64036. 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 constitute 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 inven- tories 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 flowers should be sent in, so that definite identification can be made. PLANT MATERIAL INTRODUCED 67837 to 67847—Continued. 67852 to 67856—Continued. * 67846. STIZOLOBIUM VEDUTINUM (Hassk.) 67852. MELILOTUS ALBA Desr. Fabaceae. Piper and Tracy. Fabaceae. White sweet clover. No. 802. A selected variety of the 67853. MELILOTUS OFFICINALIS (L.) Lam. velvet bean which covers the ground in Fabaceae. Sweet clover. two and one-half months. It grows up 67854. MELILOTUS TAURICA (Bieb.) Se- to an altitude of 3,000 feet. ringe. Fabaceae. Sweet clover. For previous introduction see No. 43536. 67855. TRIFOLIUM ARVENSE L. Fabaceae. 67847. VIGNA vEXiLiiATA (L.) Rich.