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POINCIANA PULCHERRIMA. 



Sloane in the year 1691. The flowers are sweet-scented, but the whole plant 

 when bruised has a disagreeable, odour like that of Savin, and it is considered 

 in the West Indies to partake of its properties. This plant is valuable in the 

 West Indies (independent of its beauty) for making fences, mixed with Parhin- 

 sonia aculata ; which, says Jaquin, forms one of the most beautiful fences 

 imaginable. 



This is a stove shrub requiring a strong heat, with plenty of pot-room to grow 

 it well. The soil should be three-fourths loam and one- fourth well-rotted dung 

 and peat, using plenty of drainers. It is propagated by seeds, which are occa- 

 sionally received from the East and West Indies, and tropical America. There 

 are frequently sent home different varieties, distinguished merely by the colour of 

 the flowers. 



Our drawing was made from a splendid specimen kindly sent to our artist by 

 John Willmore, Esq., of Oldford, about two years ago, when the plant flowered 

 for the first time in that gentleman's collection. The stamens, which are always 

 assurgent in this species, have been represented by our artist as declinate, owing, 

 no doubt, to their having begun to flag before the drawing was commenced. 



Its generic name is in compliment to M. de Poinci, governor of the Antilles : 

 pidcherrima refers to the beauty of its inflorescence. 



