SHAVING BRUSH 
*“SHAVING BRUSH (Pachira fastu- 
csa). This big-branched deciduous Mexi- 
can tree is one of the most striking of 
flowering trees, with an attractive green 
bark. Its young leaves are wine red. In 
spring before the new leaves appear, the 
bare branches are covered with immense 
flowers that are composed of thousands of 
long red, pink or white stamens, a brush- 
like cluster that really resembles a shaving 
brush. The cigar-like flower buds are 
long and slender and split open at night 
making a slight noise as they open. The 
flowers are at their best in the morning, 
as by afternoon the stamens begin droop- 
ing. Flowering in Florida is from Febru- 
ary to April and a tree with 75 to 100 
flowers open at one time is a beautiful 
sight. Trees are killed by 29° temperature. 
*GUEST TREE (Kleinhovia hospita). 
A handsome spreading tree, from 25 to 45 
feet, native to. southern India, with heart- 
shaped 4-inch leaves. It bears large term- 
inal panicles of pink or rose flowers and is 
listed by Macmillan among the most beau- 
tiful of the flowering trees of the tropics. 
In Ceylon it flowers chiefly in July and 
August, thriving best in the moist low 
country. The inflated papery seed pods 
are about 1 inch long. This tree is suitable 
for avenue planting and is much used for 
this purpose in Calcutta. I got these seeds 
from the Royal Botanic Garden in Trini- 
dad in 1941. The individual flowers are 
not large and have no odor, but they are 
in bunches from 6 to 14 inches long. This 
tree is admired as a roadside tree in Ma- 
Jaya and does well on sandy soil. 
50 
ADONIDIA PALM 
MERRILL’S PALM (Adonidia merril- 
li). Graceful feather-leaved small palm, 
native of Palawan, Philippine Is. Used in 
Manila as a street and patio palm because 
of its moderate size, attractive smooth 
trunk and its spectacular bunches of su- 
perb bright red fruits sometimes 2 inches 
long. 
DWARF DATE (Phoenix pusilla). This 
is a shrubby palm from India with spiny 
dark green leaves. 
AFRICAN OIL PALM (Elaeis gui- 
neensis). This big, spreading feather- 
leaved palm is the source of “palm oil” 
used in making soap. 
RED ARECA (Dictyospermum album 
rubrum). Tall single-trunked form with 
reddish foliage. 
FISHTAIL PALM (Caryota sp.). Fav- 
orites for tub and patio because of their 
striking leaves. 
