io8 



age, a veritable green mist, stands a good specimen of 

 the Tamarix Gallica, or French tamarisk, which blooms 

 from May to October in spike-like panicles or small 

 pinkish or reddish flowers. The leaves of the shrub 

 are very small, set alternately on the branch in a man- 

 ner which botanists term "clasping." Further along 

 the Walk, not far from the Arch which leads out upon 

 the vicinity of the Arsenal, you will see, on your right, 

 a lumpy-barked tree with markings which make you 

 think of "eyebrows." If you come upon this tree in 

 winter its long-pointed, furry buds will tell you it is 

 of the Magnolia family, and when its leaves are out, 

 their umbrella-like way of hanging about the ends of 

 the branches will give you the cue to the tree's exact 

 identity — Magnolia umbrella. Its leaves are very large, 

 often nearly two feet long and from four to eight inches 

 wide. They are entire and pointed at either end. The 

 flowers of the tree appear late in May, in large creamy- 

 white blossoms at the ends of the branches. The tree 

 has a somewhat catalpa-like sprawl of branching which 

 is quite distinctive. Its bark is of a dull gray and re- 

 minds you, in a way, of the beech tree's color, but of 

 course is far more humpy and uneven. In September 

 the umbrella tree begins to show its fruit clusters very 

 conspicuously through its leaves, magenta-hued husks 

 which break open and let fall, from each little hole, 

 seeds of the richest coral, on fairy threads of silk. As 

 you came along this way you passed, on your left, 

 about opposite the most southerly of the Corsican pines, 

 sycamore maple, and back of the donkey tent, well up 

 the slope, to the east, two very handsome red oaks 



