320 ANNUAL EEPOET SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 19 32 



/. TiiiniosafoUa is a very beautiful species not only on account of 

 its profusion of purplish-blue, bell-shaped flowers, but because of its 

 elegant, mimosalike, bipinnate leaves. When the blooms are shed 

 they form a thick blue carpet that characterizes this charming tree. 



One of the most beautiful flowering trees of India (and of other 

 tropical countries) is the iyavaki {Peltophoruin ferrugineymi)^ a 

 large symmetrical tree of quick growth, indigenous to Malaya and 

 Ceylon. It has a spreading top and fine feathery foliage. It blos- 

 soms irregularly twice a year, flowers and fruit often appearing at 

 the same time. Its flowers, large, erect panicles, are scented and 

 brownish yellow, and the tree when in full bloom presents a 

 magnificent spectacle. 



Of special interest to the traveler in India is the widespread ap- 

 pearance of the tree (or shrub) frangipani or pagoda tree {Plumerm 

 acuti folia) , a large, low, spreading shrub, quite bare of leaves, intro- 

 duced from America. It is a familiar tree in almost every tropical 

 country. In the Far East it is a well-known " temple tree," its 

 strongly scented heads of white, yellow-centered flowers being a com- 

 mon offering at Buddhist altars. A scarlet variety {P. rubra) is 

 very showy and remains in full bloom for several months. 



A wonderfully beautiful and highly ornamental tree has spread 

 by introduction into most tropical and semitropical countries. This 

 is the famous Flamboyante^ flame tree or golden mohur (of India) . 

 It originated in Madagascar and is now familiar to travelers because 

 of its truly gorgeous flowers. It usually blooms in April and May, 

 grows to a height of 40 to 50 feet, and with its spreading habit is 

 well calculated to show a flaming top and handsome, long, feathery, 

 bipinnate leaves. In many countries (British Guiana, Tahiti, India) 

 I have seen avenues of these flame-colored tree tops whose glory must 

 be seen to be fully appreciated. It is best known in America as the 

 Royal Poinciana. 



An Indian tree that originally came from West Africa is espe- 

 cially conspicuous from a distance because of its tallness and erect 

 growth. This is the so-called tulip tree {Spathodea campanulata) . 

 I have noticed most of these in and about Kandy, Ceylon, where 

 they serve the double purpose of shade and ornament. The large, 

 erect, bright scarlet-orange flowers that crown the topmost branches 

 of this handsome species make it a conspicuous object in even the 

 distant landscape. The unexpanded flowers always hold consider- 

 able water that, scattered by a passing breeze, may be unexpectedly 

 showered on the pedestrian beneath. This circumstance has given it 

 one of its common names, the fountain tree. 



Stenocarpus slnuatus, the Queensland fire tree, has taken kindly 

 to north India, where it is occasionally seen. It is an erect tree 40 



