•Tune 1908.1 



571 



Miscellaneous. 



Although poets tell us that all trees are 

 beautiful, all do not equally answer the 

 purpose of ornament. In fact it is seldom 

 that any fulfil our requirements satisfactorily 

 without certain artificial attention. But it 

 should be a maxim that if a tree is worth plant- 

 ing, it is worth looking after. Two important 

 considerations necessary to remember are: 

 (1) the selection of trees suitable to the 

 place or purpose for which they are required, 

 and (2) the necessity of planting them in a 

 systematic manner, and afterwards attend- 

 ing to their requirements in the way of shade, 

 sxipport, protection from cattle, pruning, &c. 

 Trees like children need careful attention 

 when young, and should be trained to grow 

 up in a useful and practical way. Other- 

 wise no tree will fulfil its function to the best 

 advantage, and its life will probably be un- 

 satisfactory and short. I have recently had 

 the unpleasant duty, with a Public Works 

 official, of condemning to death a large num- 

 ber of trees in a public thorotighfare which 

 had been neglected and had therefore become 

 dangerous to neighbouring houses. 



The following are some of the most beauti- 

 ful flowering trees of the tropics, given in 

 alphabetical order. By coincidence the first 

 on the list is perhaps the finest flowering tree 

 in the world, viz. : — 



S after the common name means Sinhalese 

 T=Tamil. 



Amherstia nobilis (Leguminos;e) — named 

 in honour of Lady Amherst. A medium- 

 sized tree, native of Burma, and considered 

 the most beaiitiful of all flowering trees. Its 

 immense candelabrum-like sprays of red and 

 yellow flowers, drooping from every branch 

 of the tree among the handsome foliage, 

 present an appearance of astonishing ele- 

 gance and loveliness. It is in flower during 

 the greater part of the year, but its chief 

 flowering season is January to March. The 

 tree thrives in the moist low-country up to 

 1,600 feet, and requires good rich and well- 

 drained soil. It does not seem to flourish 

 near the sea, and I believe is seldom met 

 with about Colombo. Introduced to Ceylon 

 in 1860. 



Bauhinia triandra (Leguminosae) — 

 "Mountain Ebony." — A small tree with 

 very showy large flowers, borne in racemes, 

 pink merging into purple. Bach of the leaves 

 is composed of two leaflets joined at the 

 base ; hence the genus takes its name from 

 Bauhin, twin brothers and botanists. 



Broivnea ariza (Leguminosae).— A small 

 spreading tree with pinnate drooping foliage, 

 native of Tropical America, and introduced 

 to Ceylon in 1884. It bears from the ends 

 of the branches large clusters of blossom 

 which weigh the branches down. The 

 flowers are of a deep rose colour, of great 

 beauty, resembling large Rhododendron 

 flowers. 



72 



Broivnea coccinea (Scarlet). — A short 

 spreading tree, native of South America and 

 introduced to Ceylon in 1849. It is distin- 

 guished from the other Browneas by the 

 small but numerous clusters of scarlet 

 flowers produced on the stem and older 

 branches. 



Broivnea fjrandiceps (Large-headed). — A 

 larger and handsomer tree than either of the 

 former two, native of Venezuela, introduced 

 into Ceylon in 1870. A very beautiful tree 

 when in blossom, the flowers being borne in 

 very large heads at the ends of the branches, 

 bright red in colour. The foliage too is very 

 handsome. The young leaves are produced 

 in long, drooping bunches; similar to those of 

 Amherstia. 



Broivnea macrophylla (Large-leaved). — 

 A strong growing species, introduced in 1894. 

 It is of a less free-flowering habit than those 

 already named, but the flowers are the 

 largest, and are of a pleasing shade of rose- 

 colour ; the long coloured stamens also dis- 

 tinguish the flowers from those of the other 

 species of Brownea. 



Butea frondosa (Leguminosaa). — " Bengal 

 kino-tree." "G-as-kela," S., "Parasu," T. 

 An erect tree with trifoliate leaves, indi- 

 genous to the forests of the dry region of 

 India, Ceylon, and Burma ; reaches a height 

 of about 40 feet, / and bears in the dry months 

 a profusion of orange-scarlet flowers. The 

 tree furnishes a resin ("Kino") and a useful 

 fibre ; a lac is produced on the young twigs, 

 and the flowers are used in India for dyeing 

 yellow and orange-red. 



Cassia Fistula (Leguminosae). — "Indian 

 laburnum"; Pudding-pipe; "Ehela," S., 

 " Tirukkontontai," T. A small upright tree, 

 common in the forests of the dry region of 

 Ceylon and India. A beautiful object when 

 in blossom, the flowers being bright 

 yellow, borne in numerous long pendulous 

 racemes. The flowers are used in temple 

 ceremonies, and the astringent bark for 

 tanning and in native medicine. The black 

 cylindrical pods grow from 20 to 30 inches in 

 length ; the pulp of these is a well-known 

 purgative. Suited chiefly to the rather dry 

 country, but with good drainage will thrive 

 in the moist districts up to 2,000 feet. 



Cassia grandis (Great). — "Horse Cassia." 

 A native of South America growing to a 

 height of 40 to 50 feet ; bears a profusion of 

 pink inflorescence during the dry months of 

 February and March, when the tree is com- 

 pletely deciduous. The thick, curved pods, 

 the pulp of which has an offensive smell, are 

 produced in abundance in June. 



Cassia marginata (Marginated leaf).— 

 "Ratu-wa," S., "Vakai," T. A small grace- 

 ful tree with spreading drooping branches, 

 common in the dry region of Ceylon and 

 also in South India ; very ornamental when 

 bearing its racemes of rose-coloured flowers, 

 produced in July and August. 



