MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 133 
Cacao), the trunk producing both flowers and fruit, the latter 
being cylindrical and dark brown in color when ripe. The 
mango, being a favorite fruit, is planted extensively in the 
native gardens. The fruit, especially the selected types, has 
a pleasing red color when fully ripe. For shipping, it is 
picked before ripening, and to prevent bleeding a small por- 
tion of the stem is left attached. The bread-fruit (Artocar- 
pus incisa) is represented by many specimens. The unusual- 
shaped leaves with deep clefts, terminated by the large 
rounded edible fruit covered with knotty protuberances, make 
this tree of exceptional interest. 
‘‘On the lawn near the director’s office is a large African 
tree, the akee (Blighia sapida). Specimens of this tree have 
been grown in our collection for many years without fruit- 
ing, and as with many others, the cause probably lies in the 
annual pruning necessary to keep the plants within the 
bounds of the greenhouse. The tree noted was in full fruit 
and was at least fifty feet high with a spread in proportion. 
The fruit was about the size of the mango and of a brilliant 
red color contrasting strongly with the green foliage. An- 
other African tree, one of the earliest introductions, is the 
giant silk cotton tree (Eriodendron anfractuosum). Near the 
stables several large specimens were photographed [plate 33, 
fig. 1], standing buttressed by their enormous, flat stem-props 
which formed a series of partitions similar to a revolving 
storm-door. In the fertile soil of the uplands many natural- 
ized trees may be seen, with their huge spreading branches 
supporting hundreds of epiphytic plants, such as Tillandsia, 
Philodendron, Rhipsalis, Cereus, lichens, and fungi. These 
epiphytes, especially the Tillandsia, even grow upon the over- 
head trolley wires, necessitating a periodical clearing off to 
prevent the breaking of wires. In visiting the small public 
park in the center of the capital one is attracted by the 
banyan tree (Ficus bengalensis), a native of India. Its age 
is attested by the hundreds of epiphytic roots, which have 
finally rooted in the ground for the purpose of bracing the 
large spreading branches. Notable among the garden climbers 
is the rare Camoensia maxima from Africa, a favorite with 
Director Cousins, who pointed to it with pride as one of his 
introductions of late years. The plant, upwards of fifteen 
feet across, occupied a large bed in the center of the lawn, 
