﻿134 
  

  

  THE 
  NATIONAL 
  GEOGRAPHIC 
  MAGAZINE 
  

  

  Photograph 
  by 
  II. 
  Pittier 
  

  

  THE 
  STATELY 
  CUIPO 
  TREE 
  OE 
  PANAMA 
  

  

  It 
  is 
  a 
  shock 
  to 
  learn 
  that 
  this 
  stately 
  forest 
  monarch, 
  Cavanillesia 
  platanifolia, 
  which 
  is 
  

   one 
  of 
  the 
  striking 
  features 
  of 
  the 
  Panama 
  landscape, 
  is 
  worthless 
  as 
  a 
  timber 
  tree, 
  having 
  

   wood 
  too 
  soft 
  and 
  spongy 
  to 
  be 
  of 
  any 
  value 
  — 
  at 
  least 
  no 
  use 
  has 
  yet 
  been 
  found 
  for 
  it. 
  

  

  