26 FLOWERS AND GARDENS OF MADEIRA 



with its deep crimson-red blossoms ; magnolias ; 

 the deciduous Taxodium distichum, mango-trees, 

 and hosts of others, adorn the grounds. Among 

 the shrubs are pittosperums, with their leathery 

 grey-green leaves and greenish-white sweet-scented 

 blossoms ; also francisceas and great quantities 

 of Euphorbia fulgens, whose long wreaths of 

 orange-scarlet flowers remain in beauty all through 

 January and February. Here are to be seen 

 pittangas, or Eugenia braziliensis, the myrtles of 

 Brazil, with their small shiny foliage and little 

 sweet-smelling white flowers, resembling the com- 

 mon myrtle, only borne on slender stalks ; the 

 ribbed orange -coloured fruit is not only very 

 decorative to the shrub, but is valued as a 

 great delicacy among the Portuguese. Murraya 

 exotica has flowers closely resembling orange 

 blossoms in form and fragrance, and appears to 

 flower in spring and autumn. The verandah of 

 the house is clothed in creepers, among which 

 are Allemanda schottii, with its pure yellow 

 blossoms, the deep crimson-flowered Combritum ; 

 Thunbergia laurifolia, with its lavender-coloured 

 flowers; and Ehyncospermum jasminoides, whose 

 tiny white starry flowers fill the whole air with 

 their delicious fragrance late in April. 



