FLORA OF BRITISH GUIANA — HITCHCOCK. 301 
leaves have dropped. The frangipani {Plumiera alba) has white 
flowers and large stubby twigs tliat give the tree a coarse ugly ap- 
pearance when the leaves have fallen. The cannonball tree {Cou- 
Toupita guia7iensis) is curious in that it bears the flowers and fruits 
in a tangle of short branches along the trunk between the foilage 
branches and the ground. The fruits are globose, russet-brown, about 
6 inches in diameter, and evil-smelling, though the flowers are sweet 
scented. The queen of flowers {Lagersti'oemia spedosa), a tall tree, 
and the crape myrtle {Lagerstroemia indica), a large shrub, are 
frequent in parks and gardens. In Georgetown the first of these is 
frequently called king of flowers and the second queen of flowers. 
Among the shrubs one sees the hibiscus {Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) 
with many varieties, the rose of Sharon {H. syriacus) , and the coral 
hibiscus {H. schizopetalus) . The crotons {Codiaeum variegatum) 
are present in endless varieties, cultivated because of the beautifully 
mottled, often spirally twisted, leaves. The copper leaf {Acalypha 
wilkesiana) is also cultivated for its bronze green or mottled foliage, 
the leaves being heart shaped. A rather common hedge plant is 
Notho'panax guilfoylei^ with white-margined leaflets. 
There are several ornamental vines. The most conspicuous is the 
bougainvillea, a truly gorgeous plant when in full flower. There 
are three species here. These are known in Georgetown as Bougain- 
villea sandenana^ with purple flowers (bracts), B. lateritea^ with 
terra-cotta flowers, and B. glabra^ with pink flowers. The first is 
the most abundant and probably the most beautiful. The red coralita 
{Antigonon leptopus) and a white variety of the same are common. 
The allamanda (varieties of Allatnanda catharticd) has large yellow 
somewhat bell-shaped flowers. The gloriosa {Gloriosa sujyerba) is 
a strange-looking climbing lily with spirally twisted perianth divi- 
sions. A most attractive vine is the petrea or purple wreath {Petrea 
voluMlis) with long, drooping racemes of lavender or purple flowers. 
There is also a white variety. 
The flora of the colony can best be reviewed by reference to the 
natural ecologic conditions. First, however, a few words may well 
be devoted to the introduced flora. A very large proportion of the 
plants found in the vicinity of the towns and the plantations is in- 
troduced. Among the grasses 20 per cent of all the known species 
of the colony are introduced, and since these species are found 
mostly around the settlements, they would constitute there a much 
greater proportion. Comparing the grass flora of Georgetown with 
that of the West Indies, one is surprised at the absence or rarity of 
certain species commonly introduced in the latter region. Among 
these may be mentioned Eragrostis ciliaris, E. filosa^ Dactyloctemum 
aegyptium^ Chloris ciliata, C. paraguayensis, 0. petraea, C. radiata, 
