kYSOfeE AND COOEG. 207 



to procure abortion, and the authors of Pha/rma- 

 cographia Indica assume that it may be the ■woody- 

 capsule. It is doubtful if the bark is ever used in 

 this province to poison fish. D. Bheedii is found 

 east of the "Western Ghats. 



Cultivation.— This tree grows somewhat slowly 

 even in the best soils. But it is very hardy in times 

 of drought, and may be safely planted in the driest 

 locahties. It flowers in February or March, and 

 ripens seed in July. 



435 Spathodea cam pan u lata, 



Fig.—Bot. Plates Lal-Bagh Collection. 



For ornamental planting, this tree is one of the 

 most effective. Deciduous for a few weeks in the 

 dry season, after which it breaks into leaf and is 

 subsequently covered for a long period, (September 

 and October) or two long periods, if thie season is- 

 favourable, by a gorgeous display of large orange- 

 crimson flowers. Fine specimens of the tree may 

 be seen at the Lai Bagh, Cubbon Park, and Daria 

 Dowlet Bagh. The bag-like flower bud contains a 

 quantity of watery hquid, and when pinched at the 

 apex, so as to form a small aperture, it becomes a 

 water squirt, the utility of which is much appreciated 

 by local juveniles. The nature of the wood is unknown. 

 Don mentions that S. campanulata is indigenous to 

 the "West Coast of Africa, in the Kingdom of Waree. 



Cultivation.— 'Made-up soils, and deep sandy loam 

 are the most favourable for this species. Planted 

 in some recently filled well, hollow, or ravine, it 

 grows rapidly, attaining a height of 30—40 feet 

 within a decade. But when the subsoil is hard and 

 intact, growth is less satisfactory. With the excep- 

 tion of one old specimen in the Botanical gardens, 

 which has borne a few solitary capsules, local trees 

 do not produce seed ; but cut into short sections, the 

 root-branches give off numerous suckers from which 

 nursery stock is raised. When laid under a thin 



