THE CUBA REVIEW 



13 



The Flame Tree, Showing Its Exquisite Foliage 



The Most Beautiful Tree Known 



By C. D. Mell 



Among the many beautiful trees growing in the tropical parts of the world, no other 

 tree is so well known and so greatly appreciated for ornamental planting as the Royal 

 Poinciana {Poinciana regia). Its very name suggests to the readers' minds that the tree 

 must have marks of distinction not generally found among other ornamental tree species, 

 and it may be safely said that without a single exception the Royal Poinciana presents a 

 more beautiful appearance when in flowers than any other tree known. 



The flowers, which always appear early in the spring before the leaves, are arranged 

 in broad terminal racemes or panicles similar in formation to that of the china berry 



