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"| NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS
DESCRIPTIONS OF IMPORTED SEEDS AND PLANTS
WHICH WILL BE SENT TO EXPERIMENTERS
Se a SS mE SR
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Z | SIXTH ANNUAL LIST waceryep
. 1916-17 | ¥ JAN 151917
OG, B, L @ar omen Of 2 FFP.
SPECI AL NOTICE, THOSE WHO DESIRE
TO EXPERIMENT
WITH ANY OF THESE SEEDS OR PLANTS SHOULD
APPLY WITHOUT DELAY, AS SHIPPING ARRANGE-
MENTS ARE NOW BEING MADE. THE PLANTS
ARE ALLOTTED AS THE REQUESTS
ARE RECEIVED
OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PLANT INTRODUCTION
BUREAU OF PLANT INDUSTRY
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
WASHINGTON
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1917
OFFICE OF FOREIGN SEED AND PLANT INTRODUCTION OF THE BUREAU OF PLANT
INDUSTRY.
SCIENTIFIC STAFF.
David Fairchild, Agricultural Explorer in Charge.
Washington staff:
P. H. Dorsett, Plant Introducer, in Charge of Plant Introduction Field Stations.
B. T. Galloway, Plant Pathologist.
Peter Bisset, Plant Introducer, in Charge of Foreign Plant Distribution.
Frank N. Meyer and Wilson Popenoe, Agricultural Explorers.
H.C. Skeels, Botanical Assistant, in Charge of Collections.
S.C. Stuntz, Botanical Assistant, in Charge of Explorers’ Notes, Foreign Correspondence, and Publications.
R. A. Young, Botanical Assistant, in Charge of Dasheen and Tung-Oil Investigations.
G. P. Van Eseltine, Assistant, in Charge of Label Catalogue, and Office Herbarium.
Nathan Menderson, Assistant, in Charge of Chayote Investigations.
David A. Bisset, Assistant in Plant Introduction.
Staff of field stations:
R. L. Beagles, Farm Superintendent in Charge, Plant Introduction Field Station, Chico, Cal.
H. Klopfer, Plant Propagator.
J.M. Rankin, Assistant Farm Superintendent in Charge, ( Yarrow) Plant Introduction Field Station,
Rockville, Md.
Edward Goucher, Plant Propagator.
Edward Simmonds, Gardener and Field Station Superintendent in Charge, Plant Introduction Field
Station, Miami, Fia.
J. E. Morrow, Assistant Superintendent, Plant Introduction Field Station, Brooksville, Fila.
Collaborators:
Aaron Aaronsohn, Haifa, Palestine.
Thomas W. Brown, Cairo, Egypt.
H. M. Curran, Laurel, Md.
M.J. Dorsey, University Farm, St. Paul, Minn.
Dr. Gustav Eisen, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, Cal.
E. C. Green, Servigo do Algodéo no Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A.C. Hartless, Seharunpur, India. ‘
E. J. Kraus, University of Chicago, Chicago, Til.
Barbour Lathrop, Chicago, Jil.
Miss Eliza R. Scidmore, Yokohama, Japan. :
Charles Simpson, Little River, Fila.
Dr. L. Trabut, Director, Service Botanique, Algiers, Algeria.
E. H. Wilson, Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Mass.
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F.S. & P. I.—1.
NEW PLANT INTRODUCTIONS, 1916-17.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE.
This catalogue describes more than 500 species or varieties of
foreign plants, most of which have not been grown to any extent in
this country. Our familiarity with them is consequently very lim-
ited and they are not like standard seeds and plants, the behavior
of which can be predicted with more or less certainty.
They have been imported for trial because of some direct or indi-
rect use which it is believed can be made of them by Americans.
They are introduced primarily for use by the experts of the United
States Department of Agriculture and the State experiment stations
of the country, but many of them will be available to such private
experimenters as have the necessary facilities and desire to test
them.
Since these plants must ultimately be grown by private individuals
before their commercial success is assured, it may be well to point
out that private experimenters who test these problematical new
plants are assisting In a very practical way in the plant-introduction
work of the country, even though they are not paid for their work.
It is often around the successful cultivation of a new introduction
by some private individual that a new plant industry begins.
The plants imported by the United States Department of Agri-
culture through this office are in most cases so little known to experi-
menters that their scientific or even common names alone would
convey little idea of their character. To distribute them under a
name simply, depending upon the experimenters to look them up in
a catalogue, entails a burden upon the investigator which often
results in his being at the close of the year ignorant of the uses of the
new plant. To enable him at any time to refresh his memory as to
the use of any one of these introductions, special labels have been
devised upon which are printed about sixty words of description.
These descriptive labels are attached to the plants when they are
sent out. This catalogue is made up of the identical descriptions
which will appear upon them.
The information on the labels consists of the Seed and Plant Intro-
duction (S. P. I.) number, under which the plants are known at all
times, of the scientific name, a common name (when one has been
adopted for this country), a brief description of the plant with its
uses, and, where possible, a suggestion of the general region to which
the plant is likely to be adapted.
(3)
-
In some instances few or no plants of the exact number given in
the description may be available for distribution, but m such cases
plants of the same species and variety under another introduction
number may be substituted.
At the end of this catalogue is given a complete check list of all
plants ready for distribution during the season of 1916-17. This
includes not only those plants of which descriptions appear in the
body of the catalogue, but a large number which are not so described,
either because only a few plants are now available for distribution or
because the data available regarding them are too meagre to warrant
the publication of a label.
Requests for material in this catalogue should be made by checking
the plants wanted in the check list sent out with the catalogue and
after fillmg out the blanks on the front of that list returning it promptly
to the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. At the same
time the experimenter should check the plants in the check list at
the end of his catalogue, retaining that for future reference. It will
aid this office in its distribution work if each experimenter will fill
out all blanks, check the list carefully, and make no other notes or
requests on the check list itself. Requests for plants not on the
check list or notes on plants received heretofore should be made in
a separate letter.
The number of plants available for distribution under many of
the numbers listed is quite limited, and it will therefore be impossible
to fill all requests.
All seeds and plants imported by this office are examined by the
inspectors of the Federal Horticultural Board upon arrival, and the
plants grown from these original importations are further inspected
before being sent out. Every effort is being made to insure the dis-
tribution only of seeds and plants which are perfectly healthy and
do not harbor any injurious plant diseases or insect pests.
Since the electrotype slugs of all descriptions in this and previous
catalogues are kept in stock in this office, experimenters having
plants growing from previous distributions who desire to relabel them
can secure new labels by sending in a twig of the plant the label of
which is lost and furnishing information as to the year in which it
was sent and any other available data.
Davip FarrcHILp,
Agricultural Explorer in Charge.
OrricE oF FoREIGN SEED AND PLANT INTRODUCTION,
Washington, D. C., October 1, 1916.
DESCRIPTIVE LIST.
27810. ABELMOSCHUS ESCULENTUS. Okra. From F. N.
Meyer, Erivan, Caucasus, Russia. A native Caucasian variety of
okra, said to be of good quality. To be tested under irrigation in
the hot-summered, arid, and semiarid sections of the United States.
18578. ACER TRUNCATUM. Maple. From F. N. Meyer,
Weitsan Mountains, near Peking, China. Tree up to 25 feet high,
with handsome, dense foliage. The leaves are 24 to 4 inches across,
with usually 5 narrow lobes, light green when mature, but purplish
when unfolding. One of the most beautiful of the Chinese maples.
Half hardy in Ottawa.
ACHRADELPHA MAMMOSA. Sapote. Large tropical Ameri-
can fruit tree, 30 to 100 feet high. The fruit is elliptical, about 6
inches long, with thick woody skin, within which is the soft, melting,
reddish salmon-colored flesh, about the consistency of a ripe canta-
loupe, surrounding the single large seed. The flesh has a very sweet
taste, almost cloying, but makes excellent jam and delicious marma-
lade.
37382. ACROCOMIA SCLEROCARPA. Macathba palm. Col-
lected by Messrs. Dorsett, Shamel, and Popenoe, Lavras, Minas Geraes,
Brazil. Beautiful pinnate-leaved palm, strong, rapid grower. Pro-
duces clusters of fruit weighing 60 to 80 pounds. Fruits consist
of hard kernel surrounded by white, starchy mucilaginous material.
Hogs prefer them to corn and fatten on them.
ACTINIDIA CHINENSIS. Yangtaw. Deciduous, trailing
vine, with handsome white flowers, occurring wild in eastern China.
Diecious; the pistillate plants produce fruits resembling in size and
shape small plums, with delicate gooseberry flavor. Eaten raw;
makes delicious jelly. For testing for porch decoration and fruiting
in the mild-wintered regions of the United States. (PI. I.)
40332. ACTINIDIA sp. From D. F. Higgins, Peking, China.
Korean vine, probably identical with or close to Actinidia chinensis.
Preeminently suited for a high pergola. Leaves velvety green, flowers
large, cream white, rather attractive. Fruit reported by Higgins to
be most delicious. Called Da Reh in Chosen (Korea).
(5)
6
ADANSONIA DIGITATA. Baobab tree. Central African tree
up to 60 feet high, with enormous trunk, said to reach 30 feet or
more in diameter. Wood soft, leaves somewhat resembling those of
the horse-chestnut. The bark furnishes an extremely strong fiber
often used for rope making. The fruits are called ‘‘monkey’s bread.”’
They are 8 to 12 inches long and have cells filled with slightly acid,
agreeable pulp. The leaves are said to be used for medicinal pur-
poses.
39542. ADENANTHERA PAVONINA. Circassian bean.
From Charles T. Simpson, Littleriver, Fla. A large, handsome tree
from tropical Asia, with graceful, pinnate foliage and spiral pods of
hard, bright-red seeds the size of beans. Used as food by the natives
of India and often strung into necklaces. For trial in regions free
from injurious frosts.
10727. ADENOCARPUS FRANKENIOIDES. From Alaricus
Delmard, Monte, Canary Islands. Evergreen leguminous shrub,
with velvety branches, delicate, hairy leaves, and yellow flowers
produced ‘in terminal racemes. Very ornamental for planting in
shrubbery.
39837. ADENOPHORA VERTICILLATA. From Mr. L. S.
Palen, Harbin, Manchuria. A Campanulalike border perennial with
whorled leaves and pale-blue, bell-shaped flowers arranged in irregu-
lar clusters near the top of the stem or along the lower part of the
stem in whorls. Said to make delicious early greens for stewing and
to possess an excellent flavor superior even to spinach.
41261. AGYNEJA IMPUBES. Ornamental shrub, occasionally
a small tree. From F. N. Meyer, Mokanshan, Chekiang, China.
Attains a height of 2 to 20 feet; produces annual branches which
_ resemble pinnate leaves on which are borne the whitish flowers and
bright scarlet fruits. Of value as a garden and park shrub in mild-
wintered regions.
ALBIZZIA AMARA. Moderate-sized ornamental and_ timber
tree, with graceful, leathery foliage and globular heads of yellow
flowers with long, exserted, pinkish stamens. Wood strong, fibrous,
close-grained, and durable. Sapwood large; heartwood purplish
brown, beautifully mottled, extremely hard, with alternate light and
dark bands. The tree also yields 2 good gum not very much known.
Native of Abyssinia and western India.
¢
ALBIZZIA LEBBECK. Lebbeck. Remarkable avenue tree of
rapid growth; also valuable for lumber, which seasons, works, and
polishes well and is fairly durable. Bark used for dyeing and tan-
ning. Gum is produced freely. Flowers much sought after by bees.
_ Hardy in southern Florida, where it should be tested as an avenue
tree. Native of tropical Asia and northern Australia.
ALBIZZIA MOLUCCANA. A large leguminous tree, native of
the Molucca Islands and widely distributed through insular and con-
tinental India. Appears to be well adapted to avenue planting in
southern California and Florida because of its delicate feathery
foliage and ornamental flowers, produced in small, globular heads.
38995. ALBIZZIA sp. From Mr. L. J. Mackintosh, Darjiling,
India. An ornamental tree closely allied to Acacia. Chiefly grown
for its graceful, feathery foliage and attractive flowers. Cultivation
is the same as for the acacias. Distributed to test its hardiness.
ALEGRIA DIVARICATA. Sota caballo. Ornamental flower-
ing tree used also as a timber tree. Somewhat resembles the bass-
wood or linden in appearance and foliage, but the rather large white
to rose colored flower clusters are much more showy. The wood is
light, nearly white, and could undoubtedly be used much as basswood
is used in the United States. Native of Argentina. Formerly Luehea
dwaricata.
ALEURITES CORDATA. Kiri-oil tree. Smooth-barked tree,
20 to 30 feet high, with large 3 to 5 lobed leaves; from southeastern
Asia and the adjacent islands. From the seeds, which resemble
castor beans, is expressed a very valuable drying oil, similar to that
from the seeds of the better known tung-oil tree, A. fordu. Of
possible value in the extreme Southern States.
ALEURITES FORDII. Tung or wood-oil tree of the Yangtze
Valley, China. The large seeds borne in fruits the size of small
apples yield 28 per cent of one of the best drying oils known; large
importations made into America. Deciduous tree with white flowers;
stands frost; 7-year-old tree near Tallahassee, Fla., bore one bushel
of fruit; seed not edible.
ALEURITES MOLUCCANA. Lumbang. From the Philip-
pine Islands. ‘Tall tree, yielding a commercial oil of quick-drying
properties. Forms an attractive shade tree in warm, well-protected
localities. Where the seeds are not used for the extraction of oil the
half-ripe kernels are considered very palatable when roasted. Close
relative of the Tung or wood-oil tree, but strictly tropical.
8
41056. ALLIUM CEPA. Onion. From Col. J. N. Merrill, Te-
heran, Persia. A very large onion found in western Persia at an
elevation of 4,000 feet, in gravelly soil. The onions are as much as
6 inches in diameter by 4 inches in depth. Their flavor is highly
esteemed by the Persians, who eat them raw.
40530. ALOE MARLOTHITL. From George Thorncroft, Barber-
ton, Transvaal. A conspicuous species about 10 feet high found in
the hills near Barberton. The flower stems are branching. Color of
flower orange red.
40529. ALOE sp. From George Thorncroft, Barberton, Trans-
vaal. Provisionally named A. sessiliflora. Plant 3 feet high, found
on rocky hillsides. Sends up flower stems 2 feet high, producing
pale yellow flowers.
40531. ALOE sp. From George Thorncroft, Barberton, Trans-
vaal. A stemless species with leaves in a rosette, sending up branched
flower stems to the height of 7 feet. Flowers pink. Described by
Mr. Thorncroft as the most beautiful aloe known to him.
37906. AMBURANA CLAUDII. From Dorsett, Shamel, and Pope-
noe, Januaria, Minas Geraes, Brazil. Large leguminous tree with odd-
pinnate leaves of 11 to 15 leaflets and large clusters of creamy flowers.
The valuable wood, which is much sought after, is used for flooring,
window frames, vats, etc. The crushed seeds are used to perfume
tobacco. Both wood and seeds have a strong odor of coumarin.
21907. AMPELOPSIS HUMULIFOLIA. From F. N. Meyer,
Pangshan, Chihli, China. A woody vine, bearing large, deeply lobed
leaves and small clusters of bluish white berries. Grows in dry,
rocky situations. May be of use as a cover plant for large rockeries
or for planting on terraces where the branches can hang down.
AMYGDALUS COMMUNIS. Jordan almond. An important
commercial variety of almond, of finest quality, annually imported
from Spain in large quantities and used extensively in the manufac-
ture of the best grades of confectionery. On California rich soils the
nuts produced are coarser than on thin, light soils of the Spanish
Sierras. On A. davidiana. |
26543. AMYGDALUS COMMUNIS. Almond. From Dr. L.
Trabut, Algiers, Algeria. A wild form from the mountainous regions
of Algeria, found at about 3,300 feet. The tree is of rather large
size, robust, and very resistant to drought; recommended by the
veteran horticulturist Trabut for use as a stock.
9
28801. AMYGDALUS COMMUNIS. Almond. From F. N.
Meyer, Batoum, Caucasus. Seedling of a very small almond, re-
markable for its thin shell and good flavor. Believed to have origi-
nated in Persia. Some good horticultural varieties may result from
the fruiting of this collection of untested seedlings.
29214. AMYGDALUSCOMMUNIS. ‘‘Kasan badam”’ almond.
From F. N. Meyer, Kokand, Russian Turkestan.
.
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47
11645. MANGIFERA INDICA. Cambodiana mango. From
Saigon, Cochin China, through M. E. Haffner. A long, compressed,
beaked fruit about 8 ounces in weight and deep yellow in color.
Seems to be more productive than most Indian mangos and of a
distinctive flavor; quality good. Buds from seedling in the Miami
garden.
23426. MANGIFERA INDICA. Itamarac&é mango. From
Dr. Bello, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Introduced in 1908. Fruit small,
flattened vertically, 22? inches in largest diameter; greenish yellow,
overspread with dull crimson; fairly rich flavor and fine texture;
some fiber, but juicy; develops fine aroma when properly ripened;
matures July to August; fairly productive. An attractive variety,
but rather subject to disease and possibly not of commercial value.
29333. MANGIFERA INDICA. Haden mango. Seedling of
the original Gale Mulgoba tree planted in 1902, at Cocoanut Grove,
Fla., by Capt. F. P. Haden. Fruit showiest of varieties yet fruited
in Florida, apricot yellow overspread with rich crimson, skin thick,
flesh firm, very juicy, texture a trifle coarse, fiber sometimes objec-
tionable; flavor good to very good; occasionally weighing 24 ounces;
ripens in July; tree productive; fairly disease resistant.
39338. MANIHOT DICHOTOMA. Manicoba. From Dr. V.
A. Argollo Ferréo, Bahia, Brazil. One of the Brazilian rubber trees,
the source of Jequie rubber. The tree is exceedingly variable in
leaf and growth. It will not stand frost, and requires a rainy sea-
son in summer. It ordinarily requires a year’s growth before being
tapped.
39340. MANIHOT HEPTAPHYLLA. Rubber tree. From
Dr. V. A. Argollo Ferréo, Bahia, Brazil. Tree 20 to 25 feet high,
with dark-brown bark and purplish twigs. Seeds larger and paler
than those of the Ceara rubber (JZ. glaziovir). Reported as pro-
ducing a very good quality of rubber. One of the so-called Manicoba
rubber trees, native of South America.
39339. MANIHOT PIAUHYENSIS. Remano Manicoba rub-
ber tree. From Dr. V. A. Argollo Ferréo, Bahia, Brazil. Tree
described as reaching a height of 8 to 16 feet; branches forked 2 to
3 times. Reported superior to Ceara rubber (M. glaziovi2) in yield
and quality of produce. Seeds are larger than those of the former
species, less hard and horny, and germinate more readily.
42718. MAXIMILANHA sp. Presented by H. M. Curran, Car-
tagena, Colombia. Small tree or shrub related to the annatto tree
(Biza orellana). The flowers of the known species are large, showy,
and of a bright or golden-yellow color, produced in the axils or in
large terminal clusters. Leaves palmately divided, sometimes with
fingerlike lobes.
48.
26323. MAYTENUS BOARIA. From José D. Husbands, Lima-
vida, Chile. Beautiful shade tree and hedge plant, which succeeds
well on otherwise bare and dry lowlands. The hard wood is fine
grained and elastic, mostly plain white or pale yellow, sometimes
beautifully veined with red and olive. |
41681. MELASTOMA MOLKENBOERII. From M. Buysman,
Jardin Botanique, Lawang, Java. A large shrub or small tree, 15 to
20 feet high, with terminal fascicles of 3 to 5 rose-colored flowers.
The handsome flowers and deeply veined leaves make this a plant of
considerable ornamental value in the practically frostless regions of
this country, possibly as a greenhouse shrub.
35212. MELICOCCA BIJUGA. Genip. From Henri Pittier,
Caracas, Venezuela. Slow-growing tree, attaining 20 to 60 feet in
height, with compound leaves (two pairs of leaflets), whitish flowers
in terminal racemes, and edible, green or yellow, fruits about the
size and shape of plums, and possessing a grapelike flavor. Family
Sapindacee.
41809. MIMUSOPS ELENGI. From G. Regnard, Port Louis,
Mauritius.
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