“Early in the year, after the break in the wet weather, the Angsana 
(the Malay name for this tree) sheds its leaves, becomes bare for a 
few weeks and then develops new leaves and flowers. Throughout 
most of the country, from Malacca northward, where the dry season 
is sufficiently marked, the Angsana is completely deciduous but usu- . 
ally in Johore and Singapore, where the season is not pronounced, it - 
changed its leaves by a branch or two at a time, working from below 
upwards, and then it may be several months before the crown is ° 
entirely renewed. A very dry August may induce a second erica aee 
later in the year, but this is uncertain and less decided. 
“The inflorescences develop in the axils of the young, light green 
foliage but the Angsana is peculiar because its flowering is not. con- 
tinuous. In any one neighborhood, the trees which are ready to flower 
will burst into blossom onthe same ‘day; the petals will rain down 
the next morning, laying the familiar yellow carpets by the road, and 
then there will be an interval of several days before all such trees in 
the neighborhood flower again; and so the trees continue in fitful bloom 
until their inflorescences are exhausted. In full flower the crowns seem 
painted yellow and the air is pervaded with fragrance. It seems that 
the trees need a special stimulus to open their flowers. The incidence 
of dry weather causes the leaf-change and the development of the 
inflorescences, but some other factor makes the flowers open; unless 
this factor arises, the buds remain rudimentary. It may be that the 
flower-buds, like those of the Pigeon Orchid, are stimulated to develop 
by a sudden drop in temperature, as is caused by a heavy storm, and 
then all the trees which are ready to flower and which lie within the 
influence of the storm will blossom together after the necessary inter- 
val for development. The coffee-bushes and the marsh-orchid also 
flower gregariously in a similar manner. 
“The fruits of the Angsana take about 4 months to ripen. 
“The wood of the Angsana has a rose-like odor and is said to be 
the best fine-furniture wood in the country. Various parts of the tree, 
including the red gum which oozes from wounds, are used in native 
medicine.” 
Because of the color and smell of the timber, the common name 
Burmese Rosewood is often ascribed to this tree. Strangely enough, 
all the Asiatic members of the Pterocarpus family are valued for. their 
timber, while the various South American species have mostly soft, 
worthless wood. : 
PTEROCARPUS ECHINATUS. To this native of the Philippine 
Islands, Macmillan gives first rank among the most beautiful flowering 
trees to be found in the world tropics. He writes: “Moderate size 
tree. Bears large clusters of pale orange-yellow flowers during April 
and May, followed by circular, prickly, winged pods. Very ornamen- 
tal when in blossom.” My seed: of this tree came from the world’s 
finest tropical botanical garden at Buitenzorg, Java, and reached me 
