164 THE PLANT WOKLD 



pods, macliete-like, depending therefrom. Its near relative, Poinciana 

 pidcherrima, is one of the commonest shrubs in cultivation. 



Also a notable street tree, planted on account of its quick growth 

 and hardiness, more common in Santiago than Havana, is the sandbox, 

 {Hura crepitans), with thorny trunk, spreading limbs, heart-shaped leaf 

 and tomato-like fruit. The latter, when dry, bursts with a loud snap, 

 scattering its flat seed for thirty or forty yards (farther if the wind 

 blows) round about. 



Driving on the beautiful macadamized roads, or calzadas, which 

 radiate from the capital into the country, we find various species of 

 trees often forming for miles almost an uninterrupted arch of verdure. 

 Unfortunately they are planted so close together that few reach their 

 perfect development. Besides the flamboyant and the figs already de- 

 scribed, these calzada trees are mostly the leguminous Egyptian Acacia, 

 Algaroba, shell-podded Acacia, and the malvaceous majagua, all com- 

 bining ornamental qualities with longevity and useful timber. The 

 Guines calzada is perhaps the one richest in species and most interest- 

 ing to the student of arboriculture. 



Egyptian Acacia {Acacia Lebbek), a medium-sized spreading tree, 

 with dense dark green foliage, conspicuous clusters of yellow stamens, 

 and flat pods drying white. 



Algaroba {Calliandra Saman), a magnificent, wide-spreading tree 

 "wdth thick, glossy foliage (pinnae and leaflets closing tight at night), 

 handsome clusters of crimson stamens in April and May, and long, lin- 

 ear, pulpy pods. Apparently introduced, and not yet as common as it 

 deserves to be. 



Shell-podded Acacia {Enterolobium cyclocarpum) with much the 

 habit and foliage of the flamboyant, but white flowers in small, round 

 heads and flat pod incurved on the edge into a complete circle, the old 

 black fruit often abundant in May when the tree is in blossom. 



Majagua {Paritiiim tiliacetim), shrub or small tree, with showy yel- 

 low flowers, and P. elatium, a larger tree with light pink flowers changing 

 to orange and red, probably only forms of the same species, with the 

 aspect of an overgrown Hibiscus. It yields a hard, flexible, greenish- 

 blue wood highly prized by cabinet-makers, and a tough, fibrous inner 

 bark. 



Also more or less ornamental, and seen on calzadas, in gardens 

 and squares, the following may be mentioned: 



Terminalia catappa, the East Indian almond tree, with ample leaves 

 and palatable, almond-like fruit; its limbs often growing in two or 

 three spreading, parasol-like whorls, producing a fine effect. 



Coccoloba uvifera, seaside grape, or uva caleta of the Cubans, a 

 pretty little tree, common on sandy shores and in cultivation, with 



