14 



THE CUBA R E T / E JV 



The Flame Tree Sheds Its Leaves Regularly Once a Year 



tree, only they are more numerous, larger and of a beautiful yellow, orange and shades 

 of red and pink. When the tree is in full bloom the crown is densely covered with these 

 exquisite clusters of bright, showy flowers that attract the attention of everyone within 

 the range of view. A tree in which the red color in the flowers predominates often 

 resembles a large mass of fiame, and for that reason is called flame tree, or flamboyan. 



The flowers remain on the trees until after the leaves have fully developed. The 

 latter are finely divided and appear almost as delicate as maiden-hair fern fronds. They 

 are bipinnate with a spreading habit and have a beautiful bright green color, which 

 contrasts very pleasantly with the exquisite coloration of the large flower clusters. Every 

 feature of the tree suggests that it is a member of a family of trees belonging to the 

 tropics. Even the fruit, which is a large, conspicuous pod or legume, is unlike most 

 fruits from trees of the more northern climate. These pods are upward to two feet long^ 

 nearly two inches wide and about one-half inch thick, containing a number of hard, 

 dark-colored, bean-like seeds; the pods themselves are dark or nearly black and are quite 



