154 ORNAMENTAL GARDENING 



sides of the leaves are deep green; the lower surfaces are a yel- 

 lowish silky brown. Kingsley says of it: "And what is the 

 next, like an evergreen peach, shedding from the underside of 

 every leaf a golden light, call it not shade? A Star-apple." 

 When the wind tosses up the leaves the effect is indescribable. 

 The beautiful purple fruit shows a dark star when cut across, 

 and when grown in our sandy soil with plenty of fertilizer it is 

 quite good. 



Dillenia indica, mentioned with ornamental trees, bears an 

 edible fruit. 



Eriobotryajaponica,Loquat,is a handsome tree, hardy through- 

 out the state, and bearing delicious subacid fruits. Its large, 

 evergreen, serrated leaves are very ornamental and it will grow 

 on any fairly good soil. 



Eugenia jambos, or Rose apple, is a fine tree with long, leathery, 

 glossy leaves something like those of a Mango. In late winter 

 and early spring it bears large flowers consisting of masses of 

 long, creamy white stamens, which are followed by fruits with a 

 decided flavor of roses. It is a charming sight to pull open the 

 dense foliage and see the glorious blossoms hidden within, shining 

 like great stars in the semi-darkness. E. malaccensis has broader 

 leaves and larger fruits. Both are from the Oriental Tropics and 

 are tender. 



Mammea americana, Mammee Apple. A very tender tree 

 from the West Indies, having opposite, elliptic leaves which are 

 thick and glossy. It becomes a large tree and bears great, russet 

 fruits which have a pleasant subacid flavor. It is a handsome, 

 dark foliaged tree of which there are immense specimens in and 

 near Miami. 



Mangifera indica, Mango, is one of the finest ornamentals 

 grown and needs no description. 



Monstera deliciosa, sometimes called Philodendron pertustim, 

 Ceriman of the Lesser Antilles. A magnificent tropical climber 

 with immense, rounded, deeply incised leaves and large white 

 spathes, shaped like a boat, followed by long, cone-like, edible 

 fruits. The plant climbs by means of strong adventive roots 

 which attach themselves to trees or rocky faces. From time to 

 time other roots are dropped from the climbing stem which fall 



