802 SKETCH OF THE VEGETATION OF 
branches diverge, their stems are thickly covered with little sprouts, bear- 
ing, from February until May, blossoms, the odour of which is of so de- 
lightful and penetrating a nature, that in a favourable breeze it may be 
perceived at nearly a mile's distance. The flowers are one and a half 
to two inches in diameter, and their petals are of a beautiful flesh- 
colour with yellow stripes, contrasting charmingly with the golden 
stamens of the centre. The people of Veraguas, whose apathy is not 
easily roused by the beauties of nature, often repair to these trees 
during their flowering season, in order to behold the bright tints of 
the blossoms, and enjoy the delicious perfume which they exhale. 
7 À production, less beautiful but equally singular, is the Palo de velas, 
or Candle-tree (Parmentiera cereifera, Seem.). This tree is confined to 
: the valley of the Chagres, where it forms entire forests. In entering 
them, a person might almost fancy himself transported into a chandler’s 
| shop. From all the stems and lower branches hang long cylindrical 
fruits, of a yellow wax-colour, so much resembling a candle as to have 
given rise to the popular appellation. The fruit is generally from two 
to three, but not unfrequently four, feet long, and an inch in diameter. 
The tree itself is about twenty-four feet high, with opposite, trifoliolated 
leaves, and large white blossoms, which appear throughout the year, 
but are in greatest abundance during the rainy season. The Palo de 
velas belongs to the Natural Order Crescentiaceæ, and is a Parmentiera, 
of which genus, hitherto, only one species, the P. edulis, De Cand., 
was known to exist. The fruit of the latter, called Quaukæilote, is 
eaten by the Mexicans; while that of the former serves for food to 
numerous herds of cattle. Bullocks, especially, if fed with the fruit of 
this tree, Guinea grass, and Batatilla (Ipomea brachypoda, Benth.), 
_ soon get fat. It is generally admitted, however, that the meat par- 
takes in some degree of the peculiar apple-like smell of the fruit; but 
this is by no means disagreeable, aud easily prevented, if, for a few 
days previous to the killing of the animal, the food is changed. The : 
tree produces its principal harvest during the dry season, when all the 
herbaceous vegetation is burned up; and on that account its cultiva- 
tion in tropical countries is especially to be recommended : a few acres 
ofit would effectually prevent that want of fodder, which is always 
. . most severely felt after the periodical rains have ceased. 
| A tree, which has attained great celebrity, is that called Cedron 
\ (Simaba Cedron, Planch.). The most ancient record of it which I can 
