WHITE-FLOWERED TREES 
ONCOBA SPINOSA (Flacourtiaceae). Sprny ONcosaA. Dr. David 
Fairchild brought back from Ceylon the first seeds of this tree to be 
introduced into the United States and one of the original seedlings 
is now a magnificent big tree on the Blossom estate in Palm Beach, 
about 25 feet high and its bushy head is all of 30 feet through. When 
it gets covered with its beautiful white and gold, scented camellia-like 
flowers it is a great show. It was from the Fairchild Tropical Garden 
that I got my seed and I now have some fine big trees to distribute. 
The tree is native of Arabia but Battiscombe reports it growing along 
streams in the Nyanza basin (Africa) at altitudes of 3,000-4,000 feet. 
The large, globular, woody-shelled fruits are reported to be edible. 
The shells are used in Africa for making snuff boxes. There is 
another species, O .Routledgei which is very similar in appearance 
and comes from Africa at elevation 5,000-6,000 feet. It is probably 
somewhat smaller and shrubbier than O. spinosa and produces during 
the summer a succession of showy white flowers with yellow stamens 
about 2 inches across and delightfully fragrant, resembling single 
white camellias. It stands plenty of water and is also drought resistant; 
does well in sun or half-shade. My plant came from a friend in 
California but has not flowered yet. This tree was introduced by 
the USDA from Egypt some years ago as P. I. 124007 with this de- 
scription: “A handsome, spiny shrub or small tree up to 20 feet high, 
with alternate lanceolate, glossy-green, persistent leaves about 4 inches 
long. The showy fragrant flowers are borne rather freely on the old 
wood, over a long period in late winter. The 8 to 10 pure white petals, 
about 1 to 1% inches long, surround a mass of golden yellow stamens.” 
PITTOSPORUM RHOMBIFOLIUM. Classed by some persons 
as among the most beautiful of flowering trees, this Pittosporum is much 
planted in parks at Santa Barbara, California, but is seldom seen else- 
where in this country. It makes a tree of 80 feet and each spring is 
covered with great clusters of small white flowers, followed by orange 
fruits. 
CALOPHYLLUM INOPHYLLUM  (Guttiferae), INDIAPOON 
BeauTyLeaF. A beautiful tree to 60 feet or more with great big 
spatula-like leaves and grand flowers. It is a native of the East 
Indies where it is a characteristic part of the forest along the sandy 
and rocky seashore. Because it is evergreen and flowers twice a year 
after spells of dry weather, it is much planted in the far East as 
a roadside tree. In Hawaii the tree is often used for beach gardens 
because it thrives in sandy soil and stands sea spray well, though if 
not protected from the wind, it is apt to become misshapen, though 
picturesque. Corner’s “Wayside Trees of Malaya” says the flowering 
lasts two weeks at each season, clusters of white flowers in erect, 
21 
