Narrative
255902-255908: From the United States. Plants growing at the United States Plant Introduction Station, Chico, Calif. Numbered Apr. 7, 1959. Collected in China in 1908. [...] 255905. C-27538. Medium size, vase shaped male tree with open center and flat top; bark very rough and coarse, colored with reds and yellows, giving a mottled effect; foliage color matures in midseason to later. One of the better selections for color. Holds leaves only moderately well. USDA Plant Inventory entry for PI 21967 to 22023: From Peking, Chihli, China. Received through Mr. F. N. Meyer, agricultural explorer for this Department, at the Plant Introduction Garden, Chico, Cal., February 12, 1908. [...] 21970. Pistacia chinensis Bunge. From Shantung Province, China. "(No. 769a, Sept. 16, 1907.) Chinese name Huang lien tsun. A very ornamental, graceful-growing tree which will be appreciated in the mild-wintered regions of the United States. Grows to a great age. The Chinese express out of the seeds an oil for burning purposes." (Meyer.) Note: the plants propagated vegetatively from this clonal accession (see NA 81517, NA 81744) have been earmarked by Dr. Olsen for likely introduction as an improved male selection of the species for cultivation as a street tree and ornamental. NA 81744 represents grafted plants of PI 255905, B-48389 (NA 81517); Source: Glenn Dale PI Station, MD. Information from the record of the parent accession, NA 81517: This plant (PI-255905) is a clonal seedling selection from PI-21970, which was assigned to the original seed lot. The plant in question has been growing at Glenn Dale since the early 1960s (old plot no. P1, plant no. 10, Bell number B-48389), and was brought there by Dr. William Ackerman when he moved from Chico, where he had been director.