458 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



on the Gulf of Mexico, and a tree belonging to the Bombacacese, 

 which was evidently the curious macpalxochitlquauitl, or hand-flower 

 tree (C hiranthodendron pentadactylon) which has always been 

 prized by the Mexicans for the uncanny simulacrum of a small red 

 hand produced by the union at the base of its five protruding stamens, 

 and for its tonic effect on the heart. 



At the present day it shares the popularity of the yoloxochitl, or 

 heart flower (Talauma mexicana) as a sovereign heart remedy, and 

 both figure in the " Farmacopea Mexicana " and can be bought in a 

 dried condition in every market place. The fruit trees which flour- 

 ished in the famous tropical orchard were probably different kinds 

 of the ahuacatl = avocado [Per sea a?n£ricana) ; of the tzapotl (Calo- 

 carpum mammosum) ; the texocotl {Crataegus) , a species of medlar 

 which makes delicious preserves ; the xalxocotl = guava ; the macaxo- 

 cotl {Spondias mombin, the " hog plum ") ; and the capolin (Prunvs 

 capuli) . Among the ornamental trees and shrubs were doubtless the 

 tree now known to botanists as Bombax ellipticum and other species 

 of the family; the two poinsettias; the Gynandropsis speciosa; the 

 fragrant Turpinia insignis; and several acacias, to say nothing of 

 aralias, yuccas, and tree ferns and palms. 



Among the showy flowers were the Tigridias, the bulbs of which 

 yield a farinaceous food; marigolds (Tagetes) of many kinds, and 

 various species of the orchid, zinnia, cactus, amaryllis, bouvardia, 

 solanum, lantana, bromelia, convolvulus, salvia, and dahlia families ; 

 the Hibiscus spiralis, the Solandra guttata with countless creepers; 

 possibly the tall showy huauhtli {Amaranthus leucocarpus) and the 

 Chenopodium nuttalliae, the seeds of both of which furnished favorite 

 foods. 



After reading the authentic evidence that has been presented one 

 can but reecho the conclusion expressed shortly after the Conquest 

 by Salazar, then residing in Mexico, namely, that " few princes and 

 perhaps not one ever possessed pleasure gardens that equaled those 

 of the great lord Montezuma." From his delightful hill garden at 

 Chapultepec, commanding one of the most beautiful views of the 

 world, this flower lover could visit the Iztapalapa pleasance as he 

 traveled in his litter, by easy stages, to the terrestrial paradise at 

 Huaxtepec, containing the choicest products of tropical vegetation 

 in full magnificence and luxuriance, brought together by the un- 

 remitting efforts of his forefathers and his own. It is pitiful to re- 

 late that at the present day, with the exception of some grand old 

 ahuehuetes and the perennial springs of clear water, nothing remains 

 to testify of the former beauty and grandeur of the first tropical 

 botanical garden on the American Continent. 



Returning to the valley of Mexico, we will now review what has 

 been written about the gardens at Texcoco, the ancient seat of native 



