TAMARIND 
~ TAMARIND (Tamarindus indica). 
“One of the finest and most elegant shade 
trees we have,” wrote Dr. Henry Nehrling 
of this massive, picturesque Indian shade 
tree that is well suited to gardens, parks 
and highways. It frequently grows to 50 
feet high. It does best in deep, well- 
watered soil, but it grows well also on dry 
sandy land if well mulched and now and 
then fertilized. It is not fast growing, 
but it is a sturdy, dense, widespreading, 
evergreen tree that is notably resistant to 
hurricane winds. It is an exceptionally 
fine ornamental. Although the trees bear 
fruits abundantly, cinnamon-brown pods 
4-§ inches long containing up to 4 edible 
seeds, no use is made of these in Florida; 
elsewhere throughout the world they are 
utilized in drinks, chutneys, curries, flour, 
ete. The l-inch yellow flowers are not 
conspicuous, 
RAINTREE (Samanea_ saman. Syn. 
Pithecellobium saman). A large quick- 
growing Central American tree with an 
umbrella-shaped crown, planted through- 
out the world tropics because of the shade 
cast by the enormous spread of the 
branches. It is particularly recommended 
for wide avenues and parks. The leaves 
are bipinnate, fairly large. Marshall says 
“the flowers are conspicuous through the 
numerous stamens light crimson at the 
tip.” Lancaster says: “The wood is very 
tough and seldom do the branches break 
even in a cyclone, while the uprooting of 
a Rain Tree is of rare occurrence.” Mac- 
millan says: “The leaves which form a 
canopy of shade in the daytime, close up 
at night, so that during a period of drought 
a patch of green grass may be seen be- 
neath, while the surrounding ground is 
56 
parched and brown. This led to the sup- 
position that the tree mysteriously pro- 
duced rain at night; hence the name Rain 
izcem 
LYSILOMA (L. latisiliqua). This West 
Indian shade tree to 30 feet is ideal for 
light, quick shade, for it is fast growing 
and keeps its tiny green leaves always 
green. It is used as a highway tree in 
many places because it does not get too 
big. The small yellow flowers are incon- 
spicuous. 
RAPOLOCARPUS (R. lucidus). This 
is a rare Madagascar evergreen tree of the 
Linden family with beautiful, narrow dark 
green leaves. Flowers not known, prob- 
ably inconspicuous. 
BROSIUM (B. alicastrum). Dr. David 
Fairchild gave me the seed of this drought- 
resistant Yucatan shade tree, prized for 
pasture planting. 
*MILLETTIA. Because these beautiful 
Indian and African trees with mauve, rose, 
steel-blue and lazuli-blue butterfly flow- 
ers are quite unknown in this country, 
I am growing four species for distribution 
later. 
STRANGE PLANTS 
BIRD OF PARADISE (Strelitzia re- 
ginae). On this famous lily-like plant the 
flowers have realistic bird-like heads in 
orange, blue, and purple, that bloom dur- 
ing the fall and winter. The plant has 
large banana-like leaves, leathery and 
“tropical looking.” 
TRAVELER'S TREE (Ravenala mada- 
gascariensis). Striking ornamental of the 
banana family, prized in Florida gardens. 
BLUE LILY OF THE NILE (Agapan- 
thus umbellatus). Pretty garden orna- 
mental with tall spikes of blue flowers in 
March and April. 
BUNYA BUNYA (Araucaria bidwilli). 
This is a stiff beautiful evergreen slender 
Australian tree, related to the “monkey 
puzzle,” with dense, sharp-pointed leaves 
and pineapple-like seed cones. 
FALSE PALM FIG (Ficus pseudopal- 
ma). Here is a strange Philippine shrub 
or small tree with leaves 2 feet or more 
long, stiffish, clustered at the top of the 
unbranching trunk. If you want something 
“different” and don’t ask flowers, this is it. 
