203

THE GEOGRAPHIC AND NATIVE PLANT NAMES APPROACH TO WORLD-WIDE ECONOMIC PLANT DISTRIBUTION AND EXCHANGE G. Weidman Groff,

Lingnan Plant Exchange Laurel, Florida.

Interest in world-wide plant distribution, both natural and man-directed, has been man ifest from the earliest period of creative living. Basic crop plants, such as rice, wheat and corn, the breadfruit, avocado, and date have been the foundations upon which enduring civilizations were founded in past ages. The economic urge for more and better food, cloth ing, and shelter has led many individuals and nations to wide search for more productive and vigorously healthy plants for garden, field, and orchard culture. Private initiative, botanic

garden and experiment station personnel have all contributed a large share of whatever suc cess has been obtained to date for the better ment of mankind through world plant ex change. Plant exploration and introduction in times past has been purposeful but largely fortuit6tis. Many interesting and popular books and maga zine articles, such as those by David Fairchild, have been written upon the stories of the search for new plants. The Office of Plant Exploration and Introduction of the United States Depart ment of Agriculture was first established in ] 898 when the noted American plant collector, Niels E. Hanson, brought back from Turkistan a crested wheat which now occupies so large a place in the grazing lands of our Northwest ern states. The acala cotton from southern Mexico, the avocado from central America, the

soybeans from China and Japan, the tung oil and lychee from China, and high quality dates from the Near East are just a few of the suc cessful plant introductions into the United States from outside countries. More recently the bamboo and cortisone-yielding plants are among the thousands of exotic species which have been given considerable attention. In this connection it is important to note that

the native plants of the United States have

to date yielded no major crop plant. On the other hand the plant inventory bulletins (153), of our government plant introduc tion agency number 153051 separate acquisi tions from 1898 to 1945. Many other countries also have active plant intro duction agencies. And to list the cultivated

plants of exotic origins in old countries such

as China, India, Egypt, Brazil and Mexico, the records of which have been lost in an tiquity, is a most significant study. In the light of current interest in the United Nations and one world this subject of international plant exchange becomes of great importance to rehabilitation and the brotherhood of man kind. This is a subject in which plantsmen everywhere are interested. The prospect for a wiser and more scientific approach to plant introduction and exchange in future years is very promising. The less hazardous distribution of newly acquired plants, and the breeding and experimental testing of the specialists, portends the day of far greater success in this important field of man's endeavor to improve his cultivated plants. Taxonomic plant descriptions from the time of Linneaus in 1753 have been pub lished until their number exceeds 300,000 species of flowering plants, classified within more than 8,000 genera and 280 or more families. Basic to an adequate understanding of this vast source of plant material are the natural keys and classifications of the mono graphic treatments by world authorities. The artificial keys to genera and species of re gional floras and the alphabetical arrangement followed in garden encyclopedias usually de prive the student of a clear understanding of plant origins and relationships so important to successful garden introduction, breeding, and grafting. Alexander von Humbolt, in 1807, initiated an interest in the geography of plants, since which time plant origins and natural plant distribution have been studied in some meas-

FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1952

204

ure in the light of time and place. The eco logical factors involved in plant migration and survival are becoming better understood by the geographical approach to scientific plant study. Cross pollination of plant species and forms, and the natural hybrids resulting there from, tend to multiply greatly the species of the taxonomists. The geneticists and cytologists are now in the process of clarifying the confusion to some measure. The innumerable national and local or com mon plant names (non-Latin or botanical) are usually given slight attention by the sci entist. Indeed, the botanist often encourages their complete elimination. For the plant ex

plorer and plant student in foreign lands this is not as it should be. These names, in the

respective countries are the only source to folk lore and empirical knowledge accumulated by man, working in the field of plants, for more than forty centuries. Great and lasting cul tures, such as the Chinese, Indian, and Span ish have a vast accumulation of literature cov ering plant life which in our modern day should not be ignored. The late Dr. Walter T. Swingle, a brilliant plant student and able plant explorer, initiated and championed the somewhat difficult technique of arming Amer ican plant explorers operating in China with a list of the literary Chinese names of species in which they were interested, as also many local Chinese names of cultivated varieties as had been assembled in plant lists and geo graphical provincial and district gazetteers.

1G 5—Sapindaceae

Subfamily Tribe

1—Eusapindaceae—The

true

Sapindaceae.

aullinieae. 6 genera and 398 species of which about 30 have been brought into cultivation. Vines and climbing shrubs, all of South American origin. Some species yield alkaloids.

Phylogenetic no. genus author, and date 165.1—Serjania 1703.

2—Paullinea L.

name,

Schumacher

Centers of origins

Total no.

So. and Cent. Amer.

1794.

3—Urvillea H.B.

207—14 154—13

& K. 1897.

So.

America

13—2

4—Cardiospermum L. 1753.

So.

America

12—1

5—Lophostigma

So. Amer.—Bolivia

Radlk.

1897.

Tribe II—Thouiniea. no

6 genera and 201

great

economic

species

1—

11—

6—Thinouia Triana and Planch. So. Amer. 1862.

of

English Common names and

species and no. in cult.

uses

Supplejack. In botanical

gardens Fish poisons. Greenhouse and tropical ornamentals. P. cupana yields guarana. Of no garden interest. Baloon vine. Roots sometimes purga tive. In garden culture. Of no garden interest. No

garden interest.

of which about 10 have been introduced into the garden.

Of

importance.

165.7—Valenzuelia Bert. ex. Chile Cambess 1834. 8—Bridgesia Bert, ex Cam Chile bess. 1834. So. Amer. 9—Athayana Radlk. 1887. 10—Diatanopteryx Radlk. So. Amer. 1878. Mexico and Central America. 11—Thouinia Poit. 1807. Mostly So. Amer. but some So. 12—Allophylus L. 1747. Asia, Africa and Pacific Isles.

2

Slightly known.

1—1

Introduced into U.

1— 1—.

No No

27—2 169—7

present present

S. A. in

economic economic

1942

importance. importance.

T. nervosa introduced into Florida Some semi-deciduous and suitable

for patios.

Tribe III—Sapindeae. 7 genera and 76 species of which only about 10 have attracted garden interest, and 8 of these in the genus Sapindus. Trees, chiefly of South and Central American origin, except Atalaya of

Australia.

165.13—Atalaya

Blume.

14—Thouinidium

1847

Radlk.

1878. 15—Toulicia Aubl. 1878. 16—Porocystis 1878.

17—Sapindus

Radlk.

L.

1753.

18—Deinbollia Schumach and Thonn. 1829 19—Hornea Baker. 1877.

Australia

5—2

West Indies and Mexico

6—1

South America Brazil,

Amazon area

14—1 1—

Chiefly South and Cent. Amer. but some species in Asia

15—8

Tropical Africa and Madagascar

34—

Mauritius

1-r

Cattle Bush. One species used for cattle feed when grasses fail. T. pulverulentum, a small evergreen for dry soil and introduced into Fla. T. guianensis of Guiana, a tree 20 feet in height. Slightly known except where native. Soapberry. Of great interest since early times because the berries yield saponin and have been widely used as a substitute for soap. Slightly known except where native. Prostea Camb., a synonym. Not known except where endemic.

205

GROFF: PLANT DISTRIBUTION

This he did for P. H. Dorsett seeking soy beans in the late Twenties, from which has arisen to a large extent our present billiondollar-a-year soybean crop. In the field of the Citrus genus in China Dr. Swingle had many translations made by the late Michael J. Haggerty. "Our Agricultural Debt to Asia" by Dr. Swingle reveals his conviction of the importance of dealing with people everywhere, who are interested in plant culture and plant exchange, in their own, plant name terms. Within the past few years the American In stitute of Crop Ecology, a research organiza tion devoted to the problems of plant adapta tion and introduction, has emphasized the im

portance of the use of phenology, meteorology, and geographical latitude and longitude for the purposes of plant introduction and inter national plant exchange. Under the leadership and authorship of M. Y. Nuttonson their agroclimatological studies published to date cover the Ukraine, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugo slavia, Greece, the Transjordan, Albania, the Union of Soviet Social Republics, Siberia, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Norway, China, Japan, and the Ryukyu Islands. These pamphlets present in striking outline the agroclimatic analogues in North America.

In a study of the world centers of cul tivated plant origins the published writings

Tribe IV—Aphanieae. 6 genera and 30 species of which 2 species are of interest because of their edible fruits. Woody plants, chiefly trees. Native chiefly in tropical Asia and the Pacific Islands to Australia. Of slight interest beyond their native area. 165.20—Erioglossum

Blume.

1825.

21—Aphania

Java

E. edule Blume of considerable

economic interest as an edible fruit. In cultivation it has spread to

Blume.

22—Thraulococcus

1825. Tropical Africa, Continental Asia and New Guinea

Radlk.

1877.

23—Hebecoccus

Radlk.

1877.

24—Aphanococcus Radlk. 1887. 24A—Manongarivea Choux. 1926.

Ceylon

only

No garden interest at present.

Philippines Celebes

Cochin-China and Australia. Appar ently never introduced into Europe or the Americas. A. jolungensis Hiern of Africa is recorded as having delicious, edible fruits. T. erectus (Thwaites) Radlk. Also known on the Indian peninsula at altitudes of 3000 feet or more. No garden interest at present.

Is.

Recently described and slightly known.

Madagascar

Tribe V—Lepisantheae. 15 genera and 128 species of which only 2 species have received some attention in plant introduction. As many as 9 genera are monotypic and endemic in area. Woody plants, chiefly trees which are found from Africa, to the Islands of the Pacific and Malaya Peninsula, India. Burma, Siam and Cochin-China. One species of Pancovia of uncertain record in China. Of slight interest beyond their native areas. Genera largely keyed by their fruits, as winged or not winged. 165.25—Bottegoa 1916.

Chiovenda.

26—Zollingeria S.

Kurz.

1872. 27—Lepisanthes Blume, 1825.

East Africa-Somaliland.

No

garden

reference.

Cochin-China

No

garden

reference.

and

Siam

Asian and Malayan tropics.

28—Otophora Blume. 1847. Tropical Asia and Malay Archipelago.

28A-Phonicimon 1925.

Ridley.

Malaya

only

29—Radlkofera Gilg. 1897. Tropical Africa-Cameroon

and Congo. 30—Glossolepis Gilg. 1897. Tropical Africa, and Congo 31—Chytranthus Hook. f. Tropical Africa

Cameroon

L. eriolepos Radlk. was introduced into U.S.A. under SPI No. 70 :54925. Introduced into U.S.A.: O. alata from Java, SPI. No. 51 :4489. O. spectabilis from Hawaii. SPI No. 62:49551. O. fruticosa from P. I., SPI. No. 64:51106. Fruits rosered, ornamental, edible. Apparently of no present garden interest.

Apparently of no present garden

interest. Apparently interest.

of

no

present

garden

West

Trop. Africa

Apparently of no present garden interest. Two species with edible fruits: P. laurantii and P. mortehanii. Somewhat off line of center of origin of the tribe. Of no present garden interest.

35—Melanodiscus Radlk.

West

Trop. Africa

Of no

present

garden

3 6—Crossonephelia Paill.

Madagascar

Of

no

present

garden

interest.

37—Plagioscyphus Radlk.

Madagascar

Of

no present garden

interest.

Madagascar

Of

no present garden

interest.

1862.

32—Pancovia

Willd.

33—Chonopetalum 1920.

34—Placodiscus

1779. West Africa, Congo

Radlk.

Radlk.

1887.

1887.

1874.

1878.

38—Cotylodiscus 1878.

Radlk.

Spanish

Guiana

interest.

FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1952

206

of Russian workers should not be ignored. Outstanding among these are English trans lated selected writings of the late N. I. Vavilov who lists the following geographic areas with outstanding world contribution of impor tant economic species which he enumerates: 1-The Chinese Center, 136 species; II-The Indian Center, 117 ; Ha—The Indo-Malayan Center, 55; III—The Central Asiatic Center, 42; IV-The Near-Eastern Center, 83; V-The Mediterranean Center, 84; VI—The Abyssinian Center, 38; VII-The South Mexican and Cen tral American Center, 49; VIII—The South American Center, 45; Villa—The Chiloe Cen ter, 4; VITIb—Brazillian-Paraguayan Center, 13. A survey of the species listed under each center reveals not only plant distributional data of great interest but also the part man and his civilizations have played in seeking plants in the wild for his plant cultures. Indexing

Chinese Plant Names to Their Botanical Equivalents

Throughout most of the period spent in China by the writer of this paper he has had as a recreation hobby the card indexing of Chinese plant names to their Latin equiva lents. His major interest has been in South China plant names, especially those of Kwangtung province, which he has recorded both in Chinese character and in Cantonese romanization with English equivalents. Many of these names were assembled from the very large collection of herbarium specimens brought to gether by the Botany Department of Lingnan TRIBE

University at Canton. The determinations in large part were made by Dr. E. D. Merrill, formerly of the Bureau of Science in Manila, P. I. and more recently of the Arnold Arbore tum at Jamaica Plains, Mass. Duplicate sets of most of this herbarium material was de posited at both of these institutions. The ancient provincial, prefectural, and district geographical gazetteers of China record the names of the plants and plant products of the respective areas, and those of Kwangtung prov ince are also included in the index. Most of these publications will be found upon the shelves of the Library of Congress in Wash ington, as will also many standard Chinese publications dealing with the plants of China, thanks to the many years of devotion of Dr. Swingle who purchased many of these works for the library.

The writer's manuscript on '"Plants of Kwangtung Province, China," and their Chi nese Names in Three Parts (Chinese Charac ter, Romanization in Cantonese, and Phylogenetic Botanical Enumeration) was photo graphed in the Office of Crop Physiology and Breeding Investigations of the United States Department of Agriculture in 1921. His only paper on the subject, "A Method of In dexing and Filing Chinese Plants" was pub lished in 1922. During the thirty years which has elapsed since that time he has continued his interest in the subject and has assembled upon his generic cards much more additional

data. The botanist who is fully acquainted with the detail and involvement of synonyms,

VI—Melicocceae. 8 genera and 62 species of which only 4 are of present garden interest. Most of the genera described from the Pacific area have only one or a few species. On the other hand Talisia of South America has 41 species. Woody plants, chiefly trees, with two centers of origin, one in Central and South America with two genera, and the other throughout

the Islands of the Pacific from Ceylon to Australia. as

a

monotypic,

165.39—Melicocca L.

endemic

genus

is

Strophiodiscus.

Somewhat off line and isolated in Madagascar

1762.

So. Amer., especially Bolivia, Paraguay and Surinam.

M. bijuga, the Spanish Lime, is well

177 5.

So. and Cent. Amer. from Bra

zil and British Guiana, through the West Indies to So. Florida.

T. guianensis, with rose-colored flowers is known in southern gardens. T. pedicellaris, the Florida Talisia, is found in hammocks in, the vicinity of

Ceylon.

G. unijuga, a large tree of Ceylon.

known in southern gardens. M. lepidopelta is said to be cultivated in Brazil.

.40

Talisia Aubl.

.41

Gleniea 1862.

Miami.

Hook. f.

.42

Castanospora F. Muell. Queensland, Australia.

.43 .44

Tristiropsis Radlk. 1887. Tristira Radlk.

.45

Hedyachrus

C. alphandii.

1875.

1877-78.

1877-78.

Radlk.

.45A Strophiodiscus 1927.

Solomon and Mariana Islands and New Guinea.

Philippines,

Luzon,

the Celebes Molucca. Philippine Islands.

and

Choux. Endemic in Madagascar.

The above six genera apparently have attracted

Two species are from the Philippines and one each from the other two areas. H. philippinensis. S. jumellei is a tree 12-15 meters high, garden

interest

to

date.

207

GROFF: PLANT DISTRIBUTION

whether common English, Chinese or botan ical names, will be fully aware of the pitfalls involved in the process of listing plant names. A Bird's Eye View of Our Findings Within One Family, Sapindaceae

It is obviously impossible in so short a paper to record all the Chinese and botanical names with which we have dealt in our studies of Sapindaceae, the Lychee family. The Ger man botanist, Ludwig Radlkofer, made a life long study of the plants of this family as they are found widespread throughout the world, especially in the warmer parts. His mono graph on the family was published in Leip zig, 1931 to 1934. It consists of a total of 1539 pages, covering the descriptions of all genera, species and forms, their world dis tribution, and the record of the collectors to the time of publication. Radlkofer in his monograph treated a total of 147 genera and approximately 2,000 species. These he group ed into two subfamilies, the True and the

False Sapindaceae. His tribes, keyed in nat ural order, number 14. Still new genera of Sapindaceae have been described since the time of Radlkofer's monograph, and the total number in the family is now 160. Radlkofer is the author of no less than 51 genera, or about 30 per cent of all the valid genera of Sapindaceae to the present day. He is also the author of many, many species and forms.

Most of the species of Sapindaceae are strict ly tropical and moisture loving, but a few are temperate on the subtropical outer range. A few have adjusted themselves to the drier areas, especially those of Australia. There are two distinct centers of origin, South America and South Asia, with genera and species of one area seldom migrating into the other without the help of man. There is some extension into Africa and across the islands of the South Pa cific to Australia, and northward as far as Cen tral China. Asia has contributed more to gar den culture edible and ornamental forms than has any other world area. The genera and species native to China are perhaps the most unique in structure and the most useful of the whole family. Some species yield valuable tim ber, and some, possessing toxins, are of medic inal worth. The fruits of Nephelieae are often edible and of the highest quality. Sapindus berries contain saponin and are used as a sub stitute for soap. The family also possesses nu merous ornamentals of beauty upon the land scape.

The family Sapindaceae is numbered 165 in the

Englerian

ment.

family

Genera

are

phylogenetic

also

numbered,

arrange

to

the

right of the decimal, in a linear order of nat ural arrangement. In indexing common names, in any language, these

numbers

should be

used.

Tribe VII—Schleichereae. 9 genera and 23 species, of which to date only 1 genus of 2 species, Schleichera, has attained world economic importance. Chiefly woody trees with center of origin, in the African Tropics, but with extension into Asian and Malayan Tropitfs in the occurrence of Schleichera in India and Tropical Asia, and upon the Island of Palau with the monotypic genus Palooea. 1 genus is represented in Italy and 3 are monotypic and endemic in Madagascar. 165.46

Schleichera 1805.

Willd.

Tropical Asia, especially India to the Philippines.

46A Palooea Kanehira.

The Caroline Islands.

47

Tropical East Africa.

48

49

1935. Lecaniodiscus Planch ex Bentham. 1849. Haplocoelum Radlk. 1878.

Hyseloderma Radlk. 1932.

50

Pseudopteris

51

Eriandrostachys

52

53

1874.

Baill.

Africa

Madagascar.

and

Tropical Africa and Italy. Madagascar.

Baill. Madagascar.

1874. Macphersonia Blume. 1847.

Bizonula Pellegrin. 1924.

Tropical

Madagascar and Southeast Africa. Gabun, Africa.

S. trijuga of South India is the host tree of the insect which produces Lac. The seed yields Macassar oil. S. oleosa is said to yield an edible seed from which oil is also expressed. In troduced into the United States under SPI. Nos 20:25848, 86:66659, and 108:94094, all with interesting notes. P. falcata. L. cuspanoides is from Nigeria. L. fraxinifolius, Trop. East Africa.

This genus is sometimes confused with Pistaciopsis Engl. 1902. H. jubense is a large tree native in Somaliland. P. decipiens is a small tree native

E.

in

Madagascar.

chapelieri

is

native

on

Coast of Madagascar.

the

East

M. macrophylla is native to Northern Madagascar.

B. LeTestui is a tree 4-5 meters high in Gabun.

Except for Schleichera the genera and species of this tribe have received slight attention in introduction to garden culture and are but slightly known and represented in western herbaria.

FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY, 1952

208 Tribe

VIII—Nephelieae.

18

genera and

128

species

of which about 18 have attracted garden interest.

The

tribe is of considerable economic importance because of species valued for their high quality, edible fruits, medicinal virtues, and for lumber. While the center of origin of the tribe is in Malaya and the Pacific Islands there is some extension of range westward to Madagascar and South Africa, eastward into India, Burma, Siam, Indo-China and northward into Southern China.

Southeastward the range is as far as Australia where two genera are represented. The tribe is unique in that no less than 8 genera are monotypic, with 3 genera endemic to Madagascar. 1 to Somaliland in Africa, 1 to the Cape area of South Africa, 1 to Malabar, 1 to Cochin-China, and 1 to the Malaya Archipelago. Litchi relatives in closely allied genera may later prove of value for breeding and grafting the lychee. Many fine ornamental trees for southern gardens will be found in this

group.

165.54—Euphoria Lam. 1791.

Tropical Asia including Islands of the Pacific, India, Burma, Siam,

14/3

Eye

longana, the Lungan or Dragon of South China, the most im

portant economic species. E. cinerea, a tree of the Philippines, 60 feet or more in height.

Indo-China and China.

E. didyma, also of the Philippines is a handsome, vigorous tree with fruits valued for making preserves and jel

.55—Otonephelium 1878.

Radlk.

.56—Pseudonephelium Radlk. 1878.

Indian Malabar

1/

Borneo, Java and the Philippines.

2/

tives.

P. fumatum, a tree of the forests of

Borneo and P. javanicum of somewhat

So. China and the Philippines.

.57—Litchi Sonn. 1782.

lies.

O. stipulaceum, slightly known at pres ent but of interest because of its close affinity to the Lungan and its rela

2/1

uncertain

determination.

L. chinensis, the Lychee of South China, a high quality fruit now re ceiving commercial attention in India, South Africa, Hawaii and subtropical

United States. L. philippinensis in the mountainous areas of the Philippines, is a tree which also should be intro duced into the warmer areas of the wider world. C. blancoi is reported as a medium sized tree to 25 feet in height, with bright green, spiny fruits, 2-3 inches long, containing a seed about an inch long which is of excellent quality either roasted or boiled. P. grevei is endemic to Madagascar.

The Celebes, Amboinia and the Philippines.

1/1

.58A Pseudolitchi Danguy and Choux. 1926. .58B Chiarinia Chiov.

Madagascar.

1/

Somaliland.

1/

C.

.59—Pometia F. R. &G. Forst. 1776.

India, Ceylon, Malaya, New Guinea and Pacific Isls.

8/2

.60—Xerospermum Blume. 1847.

India, Malaya, Indo-China and Hainan Island, So. China.

Reported from India is P. eximia, an ornamental and lumber tree to 100 feet in height and very handsome. Fruits are in clusters and crimson when ripe. P. pinnata is reported in Standardized Plant Names. Our only record is that of X. topingii of Hainan, collected with the Chinese

Cubila Blume. 1847.

1932.

.61—Nephelium L. 1767.

Malayan and Indian Archipelago and Tropical Asiatic Mainland.

20/

jubaefluvii,

name 32/7

endemic.

Mountain

Lychee,

not

to

be

confused with the Mountain Lychee of the closely related genus Litchi.

N. lappaceum, the Rambutan and N. mutabile, the Pulasan are highly

prized, commercial tropical fruits of Asia and the Pacific. Except for sur face characters of the fruits and range in culture they resemble the Lychee, but are not as luscious. Many botanists place the Lychee under

Nephelium.*

*

Wayside

In view of the

Trees

of

current great interest of the Lychee in Florida I quote from E. J. H. Corner in

Malaya Vol.

1, Nephelium,

pp.

589-593.1940,

in

part:

"The fruit trees known as Rambutan, Pulasan, Mata Kuching and Litchi, together with several rather common forest allies belong to this genus. In flower and foliage the species are much alike, but they are readily distinguished by a few obvious characters of the fruits, twigs and leaflets. . . . "The pulp of the seed is edible in all our species though it is scant and acid in several wild ones. The Pulasan and Penang-variety of the Rambutan are considered to have the best (pulp) because it is full and sweet and separates from the seed, though neither can equal the Chinese Litchi. This property of the pulp, by which it separates from the seed at maturity, appears to be the result of cultivation because it is

seldom,

if ever, found

in wild fruits.

. .

.

"All the Malayan species are evergreen and flower after dry weather, generally giving two crops of fruit a year. ... It is doubtful, however, if every tree flowers twice a year. It should be remarked in this respect that, because of the separation of the male flowers and bisexual flowers on different trees, the male trees will not set fruit.

CONOVER:

PAPAYA VIRUS

209

DISEASES

"The bisexual trees carry pollen. It seems therefore that the male trees are useless though it is possible that the bisexual flowers must be cross-pollinated from the male trees to set fruit. The rela tion

is

not

known.

"As for the origin of these fruit trees, it seems that the Rambutan, Pulasan, and Mata Kuching (N. malaiense) are wild in the Malayan forests: or, if not then there are wild species so close to them that there can be no doubt of their origin in Western Malaysia. It seems that they, or their progenitors, as is the case with most of our local fruits, evolved on the Sundra-shelf at the time when there was one tract

of rain-forest connecting Malaya, Borneo, Sumatra and Java.

But who first cultivated them no one knows."

The separation from the group of Litchi chinensis, and its migration northward to Hainan and the South China mainland, are intriguing subjects of the origin of the Lychee and of the influence of man in its migration and cultivation. This delicious subtropical fruit was not well known to the Chinese before the time of the Han dynasty, B. C. 140-86, when they conquered present-day Kwangtung, Kwangsi and Annam. Thereafter the officials, gentry and merchants of China adopted the Lychee as their most delicious and attractive fruit which spread widely in commerce although it was restricted greatly in climatic and cultural range.

G.

W.

G.

62—Alectryon

Gaertn.

Malaya,

1788.

This genus is of no great economic importance although A. excelsum, the Titoki tree of New Zealand, where the Maoris formerly extracted an oil from the seed, has been successfully introduced into California; and A. tomentosa came into our country from Italy in 1916. It is now commonly found in the Miami area. Apparently of slight interest in the

26/2

Islands of the Pacific

to Australia.

63—Podonephelium 1874. 64—Heterodendron 1818.

Baill. Desf.

4/

New Caledonia. Queensland and Wales, Australia.

New

garden.

H.

5/1

South

oleafolium

Desf.,

shrub

with

leathery

been

introduced

a

grey-barked

leaves and

very

small flowers in axillary racemes, has into

the

United

States.

65—Stadmannia 1793.

Africa,

Lam.

66—Smellophyllum 1879.

Madagascar

and

Re

union Islands, and one species in the Philippines.

Radlk.

South

African

South

Africa

Cape

S. oppositifolia, described from the Philippines, where the fruit is report ed as making an excellent jelly, has been variously introduced into the United States. S. Amabilis from Zan zibar has been introduced into Eng land. S. mauritiana, credited to Mad agascar and Reunion Islands, has also attracted garden attention. A monotypic genus. C. capense has

4/3

1/

area.

been described from along the Baaken

River of the Cape area.

67—Pappea Radlk. 1835.

P.

4/1

capensis has been introduced into

the United States from Pretoria, SPI. No. 74 :56148, with note that the seeds

contain 47.8 percent of a non-drying oil, golden yellow and fairly viscous which possibly could be used in soap manufacturing or as a lubricant.

68—Cnemidiscus 1894.

Pierre.

Southern IndoChina.

1/

68A Omalocarpus 1927.

Choux.

Madagascar.

1/

A monotypic genus with C. thorelii, 2 to 8 meters high. Its correct phylogenetic position is somewhat uncertain, but Radlkofer places it after Pappea.

TO BE CONTINUED IN THE (a)

(b)

endemic to

Madagascar.

1953 PROCEEDINGS:

Content of Tribes Genera Nos.

A monotypic genus, O. macrophyllus

69 to

IX to XIV143;

Index of common names to their Latin

generic genus

equivalents

by

number.

TWO VIRUS DISEASES OF THE PAPAYA Robert A. Conover

Sub-Tropical Experiment Station

Homestead

This paper was withdrawn by the author due to late developments when one of the viruses developed a split complex. It will probably be given next year. D.

o.