seem to have selected and preserved many of the existing races in a way which illustrates well what a primitive culture 
is able to do in plant-improvement. 
Over a pergola, on the south side, grows the beautiful apricot-flowered Odontadenia speciosa^ often called Dipladenia 
Harrisii, Over another pergola, on the west side, is the fragrant Faradaya papuana. Under both of these climbers, 
steps descend to the Lower Ring Road. 
Ixoras have been given places on the terraces west of the hill. 
THE LOWER RING ROAD 
From the pergola where Odontadenia speciosa grows, to the Main Gate Road, the Red-stemmed Palm, Cyrtostachys 
lakkOf makes an avenue. Proceeding round the Lower Ring Road in the other direction, the visitor sees below him a 
small terrace ; this was the site of the first Gardens' Office. It is shaded by trees of Delonix regia {Poinciana regia) 
which in the Straits Settlements has the name of Flame-of-the-Forest. It is a native of Madagascar, where it was 
obtained in i8ag, and sent widely into cultivation. Reaching India, it soon usurped the name Gold Mohur Tree " 
from the much less ornamental Ceesalpmia pulcherrima, whose golden flowers are of the size of the Mohur coin. 
Vanda Batemanni has had a place here for over forty years. 
Just at the foot of the steps is the very large bush of Bougainvillsea spectabiliSf described in the Guide Book of 1889 as 
magnificent ; but in old age it flowers little. 
The harsh-foliaged tree next met with is the Malay Tampang, Artocarpus Gomezianay which has a fruit that is 
eaten cooked. Next come two small trees of Brownea coccinea. Beyond, is a tree of Gordonia singaporeana, an ally of 
the Tea plant, large enough to furnish good durable timber. In common with the Tea plant it contains a considerable 
amount of tannin, so that the bark is used for curing hides and the leaves are a local remedy for diarrhcea. 
The enormous flowers of Fagreea auriculata here attract attention ; they are creamy-white, and may even exceed 
a foot in diameter. Their consistency is curiously leathery, yet they last only two days. Fagreea Ridleyi is growing 
close to F, auriculata ; it has smaller flowers. Nearby is a considerable tree of the Tampunei, or Monkey Jak, Artocarpus 
rigida, the fruits of which possess a delicious honey-flavoured pulp. 
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