the mulch formed by the leaves of leguminous and other plants is keenly appreciated by the best cultivators; and it may be possible to find suitable small shrubs of Pavetta or other rubiaceous plants which will be worth while grow. ing for their nitrogen-fixing leaf bacteria in the orchards of our semi-Tropics or wherever else the climate will permit of their cultivation." (Fairchild.)

42768 to 42789.

From Madrid, Spain.

ceived May 8, 1916.

Presented by the curator, Botanic Gardens. Re

42768. AVENA STERILIS L.

Poaceæ.

Oats.

So-called animated oats, closely resembling Avena fatua, wild oats, but with larger spikelets. (Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 1, p. 435.)

42769 to 42775. ASPARAGUS spp.

42769. ASPARAGUS CAPENSIS L.

Convallariaceæ.

Asparagus.

A shrubby plant with large, spreading prickles; ascending, rather flexuous, woody branches; and branchlets in dense clusters, onefourth to 1 inch long. Flowers produced only from tips of the branches, and usually solitary, about one-eighth of an inch long. (Adapted from Baker in Flora Capensis, vol. 6, p. 263.)

42770.

ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS L.

42771. ASPARAGUS MARITIMUS Mill.

An herbaceous perennial, native to the coasts of Europe and northern Africa. The erect, much-branched stems are round; the subulate, angled cladodes are in fascicles of six to eight; and the small flowers, one-half the length of the pedicel, produce globose fruits. (Adapted from Boissier, Flora Orientalis, vol. 5, p. 336.) 42772.

42773.

ASPARAGUS OFFICINALIS L.

ASPARAGUS SCANDENS Thunb.

A slender, climbing vine up to 6 feet high, with freely branching green stems, the branches with twigs and cladodes in one plane. This ornamental asparagus thrives more in an intermediate house, and is a good decorative plant when grown in strings for table decorations. It is also good as a pot plant. (Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 1, p. 408.)

42774. ASPARAGUS STIPULARIS Forsk.

An herbaceous perennial, native of the Mediterranean region. It has erect stems with angle-grooved branches, cladodia 2 inches long, and small flowers followed by berries the size of a pea. (Adapted from Muschler, Manual Flora of Egypt, vol. 1, p. 230.)

42775. ASPARAGUS TRICHOPHYLLUS Bunge.

A hardy, herbaceous perennial from northern Asia, twining to a height of 6 feet with cladodes like an ordinary asparagus.

42776.

CARYOPTERIS MONGHOLICA Bunge. Verbenaceæ.

An ornamental, woody plant grown for its lavender-blue flowers, profusely produced in fall. The flowers are in densely clustered, axillary cymes and in this species less numerous but larger than in the commonly known C. incana (C. mastacanthus). (Adapted from Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 2, p. 679.)

42768 to 42789-Continued.

42777. GLEDITSIA CASPICA Desf. Cæsalpiniaceæ.

Honey locust.

A very spiny tree, 30 to 40 feet high, the spines slightly flattened, 6 inches or more long. The flowers are green, almost sessile, in dense, downy racemes 2 to 4 inches long. Fruit scimitar shaped, about 8 inches long and an inch wide. This species is well worth growing because of its greater sturdiness than the ordinary honey locust and because of the size and number of its spines. (Adapted from W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 1, p. 595.)

For previous introduction, see S. P. I. No. 42288. 42778. PINUS sp. Pinaceæ.

Pine.

Received as Pinus paroliniana Webb [=P. pyrenaica Lapeyr.]; the seeds do not agree with our material of this species. 42779. PYRUS CANESCENS Spach. Malaceæ.

Pear.

A probable hybrid between Pyrus nivalis and P. salicifolia, between which species it is almost intermediate. This tree is very handsome in spring with its very white young leaves, which become shiny dark green above when mature. The fruit is pale green, with much shorter stalk than that of P. nivalis. (Adapted from W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 289.) 42780. RIBES FLAVUM Berland. Grossulariaces.

Currant.

Janczewski (Monographie des Grosseilliers, Mémoires de la Société de Physique et Historie Naturelle de Geneve, vol. 35, page 506, 1907) refers to this species as a variety of Ribes aureum, the common golden, or buffalo, currant of the central and western United States.

42781.

RIBES MULTIFLORUM Kit. Grossulariaceæ.

Currant.

This most striking of the red-currant group has yellowish green flowers crowded on slender, pendulous racemes, stems 5 inches long. It is a very good shrub, up to 6 feet high, with perhaps stouter unarmed branches than any other currant. The fruit is roundish, red when ripe; one-third of an inch in diameter, native of southern and eastern Europe. (Adapted from W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 405.)

42782 to 42789. RUBUS spp. Rosaceœ.

42782.

RUBUS HOFFMEISTERIANUS Kunth and Bouche.

Bramble.

A Himalayan species closely related to Rubus gracilis and R. foliolosus, but differing from the former in having all the leaflets suborbicular or broadly elliptic, pilose above, and the flowers in compact racemes; and from the latter in the form of the leaflets. (Adapted from Focke, Species Ruborum, Bibliotheca Botanica, vol. 72, pt. 2, p. 190.)

42783. RUBUS INERMIS Pourr.

This species is listed by Focke as a form under Rubus ulmifolius, a very large-branched plant without spines and commonly with ternate leaves. Of unknown origin. (See Focke, Species Ruborum, Bibliotheca Botanica, vol. 83, pt. 2, p. 154, 1914.)

42784. RUBUS LEUCOSTACHYS Schleicher.

A British shrub distinguished by its round, bright pink or white petals and densely felted stems, leaves, and peduncles; the fruit is white and insipid.

42768 to 42789-Continued.

42785. RUBUS LINDLEIANUS Lees,

A plant with tall, curving shoots, strong prickles, and cymose clusters of white or pale rose-colored flowers. (Adapted from Focke, Species Ruborum, Bibliotheca Botanica, vol. 85, pt. 1, p. 132, 1914.)

42786. RUBUS RHAMNIFOLIUS Weihe and Nees.

This species from southern England has thick, leathery leaflets covered beneath with a felt of grayish white down and white or pale pink cup-shaped flowers borne in slender panicles.

42787. RUBUS SANCTUS Schreber.

A very variable species between Rubus rhamnifolius and R. gratus, with strong, arched shoots; leaves composed of five leaflets; elongate racemes of white or pale rose-colored flowers. (Adapted from Focke, Species Ruborum, Bibliotheca Botanica, vol. 83, pt. 1, p. 136, 1914.)

42788. RUBUS THYRSIFLORUS Weihe and Nees.

A European species, with nearly prostrate, rarely climbing stems; leaves divided into three or five broad, irregularly toothed leaflets; rather small white flowers and small fruit. (Adapted from Focke, Species Ruborum, Bibliotheca Botanica, vol. 83, pt. 2, p. 244.) 42789. RUBUS VESTITUS Weihe and Nees.

A well-characterized, large-fruited species which has, however, in western Europe, a large number of forms, usually of local distribution. (For a complete technical description, see Ascherson und Graebner, Synopsis der Mittel Europäischen Flora, vol. 6, pt. 1, p. 546.)

42790. VITEX LUCENS Kirk. Verbenaceæ.

From Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand.

Wright. Received May 13, 1916.

Puriri.

Seeds presented by Mr. H. R.

"A fine tree, from 50 to 60 feet in height, often called the New Zealand oak, on account of the strength and durability of its timber. It is not injured by damp or exposure and is therefore extremely valuable for shipbuilding purposes. The logs are often perforated with large holes, but these do not affect the timber, except in so far as it has sometimes to be cut to disadvantage. The holes are made by a soft-bodied grub, which develops into the puriri moth. The leaves of the puriri are handsome, being of a bright, glossy green, the leaflets 3 to 4 inches long. The flowers are in axillary panicles, four to eight together, pink or red, irregular in shape, and with exserted stamens. The roots of the puriri never penetrate deeply into the ground, but lie near the surface, so that the tree is easily blown over in a gale of wind. It is endemic in New Zealand and is restricted to the northern part of the North Island. It is easily cultivated and flowers more or less all the year round." (Laing and Blackwell, Plants of New Zealand, p. 350.)

"The New Zealand puriri is one of the most handsome trees in cultivation, and is worthy of more extensive planting. It transplants well, grows rapidly, and makes a compact tree of symmetrical bushy form, with bright glossy-green foliage. It is one of the New Zealand hardwoods used for railway sleepers, and is very durable. The berries when ripe resemble cherries, which tends to add to its beauty." (Wright.)

Asteraceæ.

42791. ARTEMISIA CINA Berg.

Wormiseed.

Presented by the director, Jardin Bo

From Tiflis, Caucasus, Russia. tanique. Received May 22, 1916.

See S. P. I. No. 42682 for previous introduction and description.

42792. ANNONA RETICULATA L.

Annonaceæ.

Custard-apple.

From Beira, Mozambique, Portuguese East Africa. Seed presented by Mr. E. H. Heron, Director of Agriculture. Received May 13, 1916.

"A robust tree which has spread spontaneously in the forests of the Philippines, the island of Guam, and the East Indies. It is essentially tropical, while the cherimoya, with the smooth-fruited forms of which it has often been confused, is subtropical. Its fruit is inferior in flavor to both the cherimoya and the sugar-apple (Annona squamosa), from the first of which it may be distinguished by its long, narrow, glabrate leaves and from the second by its solid, compact fruit, as well as its larger leaves. From A. glabra, with which it is also confused, it may be distinguished by its elongate narrow outer petals and its small, dark-brown seeds. It is common in the West Indies and thrives in south Florida." (Bailey, Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, vol. 1, p. 294.) See S. P. I. Nos. 18736 and 39887 for previous introductions.

This species is perhaps native of southern Russia and western Siberia. It resembles Malus pumila in most fruit characters and in the pubescence of the leaves, but is nearer to Malus baccata in the form, serration, and texture of the leaves and in the longer stemmed fruits and leaves. 42795. MALUS sp. Malaceæ.

Apple. Received as Malus orthocarpa Lavalle, which appears never to have been published.

42796.

PYRUS AMYGDALIFORMIS Vill. Malaces.

Pear.

A large, rounded shrub or small tree, occasionally 20 feet high. Leaves very variable in shape and size; white flowers 1 inch across appearing in April; fruit orange shaped, about an inch wide, yellowish brown, produced on a short thick stalk. Not especially valuable for the garden except for its picturesqueness when old. Native of the Mediterranean region. (Adapted from W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 273.)

42797. PYRUS NIVALIS Jacq. Malaceœ.

Pear.

A small sturdy tree with woolly, white young shoots and young leaves; flowers pure white, 1 inches across, produced in April in conspicuous clusters. Fruit 1 inches or more wide, rounded, yellowish green. This eastern European tree is very beautiful early in the season because of its pure white leaves and numerous flowers. In France the trees are cultivated for their fruits, which are eaten when bletted. (Adapted from W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 289.)

140475°-20- -5

42793 to 42798-Continued.

42798.

PYRUS SINAI Desf. Malaceæ.

Pear.

(P. sinaica Dum.-Cours.)

This pear, which is related to Pyrus amygdaliformis, is supposed to have originated in Asia Minor or the islands of the Grecian Archipelago. Its leaves in spring are white with down, becoming smooth and shiny later. (Adapted from W. J. Bean, Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles, vol. 2, p. 273.)

42799. ALPINIA EXALTATA (L. f.) Roem. and Schult. Zinziberaceœ. (Renealmia exaltata L. f.)

Received through Mr. W. E. Safford, of the Bureau of Plant Industry, May 8, 1916.

"A plant belonging to the ginger family, widely spread in tropical America. In Porto Rico it is commonly known as Bihao, or Vijao grande. The broad thin membranaceous leaves, usually acuminate at the apex and tapering at the base, are somewhat like those of a canna. The inflorescence is a long simple raceme, with magenta-colored or reddish purple peduncle and bracts and yellow flowers. The fleshy, obovoid, or oval fruit usually borne on a recurved pedicel (when mature) is black at length and yields a dye of some importance." (Safford.)

42800 and 42801.

ARACHIS HYPOGAEA L.

Fabaceæ.

Peanut.

From Tsingtau, China. Presented by Mr. Willys R. Peck, American consul. Received May 18, 1916.

42800. "The large ordinary peanut of trade, grown in Shantung Prov ince. This variety was imported into Shantung within comparatively recent years. The writer recollects that some twenty years ago they were a rarity in the province." (Peck.)

42801. "A small wrinkled sort that, I am informed by an American resident from the Southern States, is found in the southern part of the United States and is known colloquially as goober. This variety is indigenous, but has, in its turn, become comparatively rare. None were obtainable in this consular district, these seeds having come from Tsinanfu, 250 miles away." (Peck.)

42802. COLOCASIA ESCULENTA (L.) Schott.

Araceæ.

Taro.

From Chungking, Szechwan Province, China. Tubers presented by Mr. E. Widler. Received May 19, 1916.

"The taro is cultivated in Szechwan in summer wherever a good water supply is available. Each plant produces 7 to 15 egg-shaped tubers; they are cooked whole or sliced and fried in sauce of various kinds. The plant has been known since before the Han period." (Widler.)

42803 to 42805.

From San Jose, Costa Rica. Presented by Mr. Carlos Wercklé, Department of Agriculture. Received May 23, 1916.