DOMBEYA CALANTHA 
*SHOWY DOMBEYA (D. calantha). 
This is my favorite to date among the 100 
kinds of Dombeya trees and shrubs which 
come from Madagascar and _ tropical 
Africa. It makes an evergreen tree to 20 
feet with great arching branches all over 
the stem, each one tipped from January 
to June with a cluster of bright pink flow- 
ers above the leaves where they make a 
considerable show. If kept within bounds 
to prevent leginess, it is a handsome orna- 
mental. The leaves are up to a foot across. 
KENYA DOMBEYA (D. nairobensis). 
Shrub or tree to 15 feet with pointed, 3- 
lobed leaves, and white or pink flowers in 
few-flowered clusters. Probably _ half- 
hardy. 
WEDDINGFLOWER (D. natalensis). 
This Natal, rapid growing small evergreen 
tree with large poplar-like leaves, bears 
large, white, sweet-scented flowers that 
make it an attractive garden subject. 
DREGE’S DOMBEYA (D. dregeana). 
South African evergreen shrub or small 
tree, with white or rose flowers, 1 inch 
across, in clusters, pendant, freely pro- 
duced. 
"BURGESS DOMBEYA (D. burges- 
siae). Handsome, South African evergreen 
tree to 10 feet with large bell-shaped 
flowers, the petals spreading, white with 
rose tinge at the base and in veins, in 
clusters. Usually grown as a mound- 
shaped shrub. 
HAIRY DOMBEYA (D. mollis). A 
spreading tree to 30 feet, soft-hairy 
throughout, with heart-shaped leaves and 
small pink flowers in dense clusters. Na- 
tive country unknown; described from 
plants at Kew. 
*CHRISTMAS-FLOWER DOMBEYA 
(D. wallichi). This is the common Dom- 
beya of Florida gardens, beautiful in Dec- 
ember with great hanging balls of pink 
flowers like hydrangea, hidden under the 
leaves. However the blooming season is 
short and the unsightly dead flowers hang 
on for weeks. The genus Dombeya was 
formerly known as Assonia and as Astra- 
paea. 
WHITE DOMBEYA (D. elegans). 
Small tree from Pretoria, S. Africa, thriv- 
ing near running water with pentagonal 
leaves and clustered white flowers. 
GOETZEN’S DOMBEYA (D. goetz- 
eni). Eggeling says this is a forest timber 
tree to 50 feet with large dark green 
leaves usually with red nerves and huge 
clusters of pale pink flowers to 12 inches 
long. The seed came to me from Kenya 
Colony. 
SUDAN COLANUT (Cola acuminata). 
This 40-foot evergreen African tree, re- 
sembling an apple tree, is one of 40 species 
that produce the cola nuts which are said 
to sustain the natives in great feats of 
endurance. It has become famous in the 
United States in the manufacture of cold 
drinks. The %-inch, star-shaped flowers 
in clusters of 15 or more, have a slender 
green tube and a showy yellow limb which 
is a part of the calyx. Unwin says: “Al 
ways standing in the shade and with a 
heavy evergreen foliage, the cream-col- 
oured flowers with a pink streak on each 
petal show up very clearly when the tree 
comes into bloom in February or March.” 
Schiffino says: “. . . because of fine foliage 
and flowers it adapts itself well to orna- 
mental use.” The seeds, resembling the 
horsechestnut and bitter to taste, are in a 
6-inch pod. I have other Cola trees; in- 
quiries invited. 
