IN FLORIDA 109 



northern one. It reaches the dimensions of a small tree and 

 grows in moist places but will flourish on dry ground. 



Paritium elatum, Cuban Bast. I am not positive that this 

 tree grows wild in Florida though I have evidence which goes to 

 show that it does, and that it has been found along the shores 

 of Biscayne Bay. It is a spreading tree with large, cordate, 

 nearly orbicular and pointed leaves and good sized flowers which 

 are a peculiar buff color at first and turn to brownish red at a 

 later stage. I have a tree fifty feet high in my grounds which is 

 always in flower. The variety abutiloides is abundant at Baker's 

 Haulover at the head of Biscayne Bay and has lighter green leaves 

 and larger flowers. Although it is found there in a brackish 

 swamp it does finely on high pine land. 



Paritium tiliaceum. This is a native of the Old World Tropics 

 and is widely distributed along the sea throughout the warmer 

 parts of the world. It has been found along the shores of Bis- 

 cayne Bay and it does well in cultivation in ground that is not 

 too poor. Its leaves are smoother than those of either of the 

 others and they are darker green. The blossoms are large and 

 handsome, yellow at first and turning darker later. 



Thespesia populnea grows on the lower keys and coast of the 

 state and has shining, cordate leaves and salmon or pinkish, 

 bell-shaped flowers which are quite attractive. If grown on 

 pine land it should be well fertilized. 



There are several ornamental trees which extend their range 

 into the extreme western or northern part of the state which I 

 have not listed as they belong to the northern flora and prob- 

 ably would not do well much farther south. Nearly all that I 

 have mentioned grow in hammocks or rich lowland, consequently 

 if they are planted in high pine land the soil should be enriched 

 and it would be a good idea to mulch them. In a general way it 

 is not to be expected that trees which grow wild in Florida will 

 succeed much farther north than the limits I have indicated, 

 though sometimes they may. 



Many of our native trees and shrubs are very attractive and 

 striking and would be useful in cultivation, and some of them are 

 on the verge of extermination within our limits. A few of the 

 softer-wooded species can be propagated from cuttings. Some of 



