318 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 32 



world. In addition to B. 'purpurea^ probably the most widespread 

 and best known of the genus, with its large, showy, orchidlike pink 

 flowers merging into purple, we have B. triandra or mountain ebony, 

 closely resembling purpurea; B. tomentosa with yellow flowers; B. 

 krugii^ native of Puerto Rico; and many others whose fruit is a 

 long, flat, beanlike pod. 



Planted and encouraged to grow near Buddist temples is often 

 found another of my favorites, the Naka or Ceylon ironwoocl {Mesua 

 ferrea). It prefers the hot and moist areas of British India, where 

 during April and May this moderate-sized, conical, and handsome 

 tree profusely blossoms as large, scented, white flowers with a yellow 

 center of numerous stamens. New, deep crimson leaves appear 

 twice a 3^ear, greatly adding to the beauty of an attractive species. 



In the drier regions of India (one sees avenues of it on the road 

 to Mount Abu) grov^^s an erect 40-foot tree with large, broad, tri- 

 foliate leaves, the " flame of the forest" {Butea frondosa). During 

 the dusty, rainless months when nature calls for some attractive 

 living thing to cheer the passer-by this remarkable tree puts forth 

 a profusion of beautiful crimson or orange-scarlet flowers whose 

 flaming blooms justify its English vernacular name. It has, of 

 course, many native titles, among them the dhak, mentioned by 

 Kipling as a meteorological forecaster. When the tree blooms early 

 and soon withers, the dry season will be prolonged and disastrous. 

 The tree also produces a useful resin, called klrio^ and a valuable 

 fiber. The young branches are a source of lacquer and the flowers 

 are used in India for making orange and yellow dyes. 



This partial catalogue of beautiful trees of north India would 

 be incomplete without speaking of what is generally regarded as 

 the most lovely of all the blossoming silva one meets Vv^ith in the 

 Far East. I refer to an originally Burmese tree, the Aniherstia 

 nohllis, named after Lady Amherst, the wife of a former British 

 governor of Burma. H. F. Macmillan's description (Tropical 

 Gardening, pp. 82, 83) of this silvan beauty as found in Ceylon 

 gives a tine picture of the charming species, that combines in a 

 wonderful way ornamental foliage with showy blossoms. The 

 leaves, accompanied by 



large graceful sprays of vermilion and yellow flowers, drooping from every 

 branch and interspersed with the handsome foliage, present an appearance of 

 astonishing elegance and loveliness. It is in blossom for the greater part of 

 the year, except during long periods of rainy weather, the chief flowering 

 season in Ceylon being from November to April. The tree grows to a height of 

 50 to 60 feet, is usually round-topped, with many slender branches and dark- 

 green pinnate leaves. A remarkable feature is the long, hanging, brownish- 

 pink clusters in which the young leaves appear. This habit is also characteristic. 



