THE ECONOMIC .HOUSE 65 
Leguminosae, the family to which our locust belongs. This tree is a 
native of the Philippine Islands. It is grown extensively in the tropics 
as an ornamental tree—it makes a large stately tree with heads of 
white flowers. The pulpy portion of the fruit is eaten by the poorer 
natives. The bark yields a yellow dye. The collection also includes 
another species of the same genus. 
Pittosporum undulatum, or Mock ORANGE, or VICTORIAN Box, or IVORY 
Woop, a native of Australia, belongs to the Pittosporaceae, a family 
with no local representatives. The species grows to be a large tree, 
but is often kept pruned as a shrub. In some sections it is preferred 
to box as a hedge plant. It is used as an avenue tree in southern 
California. It is often planted near dining room windows because of 
the orange-blossom fragrance of the flowers. It produces a hard, 
beautiful, and light-colored wood, of value in cabinet work. 
Pittosporum Tobira, or TopiRA, is a native of China and Japan. It 
is a winter-flowering shrub, bearing fragrant whitish flowers that 
resemble orange flowers. It withstands violent saline winds unusually 
well and is much favored as a shrub along sea coasts. The variegated 
nig which is also in the collection, is used in the East as a house 
plant. 
Plumeria acutifolia, or FRANGIPANI, is a member of the Apocynaceae, 
to which our dogbane belongs. The frangipani is a native of Mexico, 
but is cultivated in all tropical countries for its fragrant white flowers, 
which vie in fragrance with the jessamine and tuberose. The trees 
are in bloom the year round, bearing great clusters of waxy white 
flowers, as many as 20 flowers to the cluster. The tree is known in 
some sections of the tropics as the temple-flower, or graveyard-flower. 
The common name is supposed to come from an Italian nobleman 
named Frangipani who lived in the Middle Ages. He compounded 
a perfume of many ingredients, and gave it his name. These flowers 
are supposed to have the exact odor of the perfume. 
Podocarpus macrophylla, or GIANT YEw, is a member of the Taxaceae, 
the family to which our American yew belongs. The giant yew is a 
native of Japan, where it often grows to a height of 50 feet. It is a 
valuable timber tree. The collection contains two other species of 
the same genus. 
Pogostemon Heyneanus (P. Patchouly), or PATCHOULI PLANT, is a mem- 
ber of the Labiatae, the family to which our mints belong. The 
Patchouli is an herb from India and Burma. It is grown for perfume 
in India, where it is one of the favorite perfumes. In the days when 
Indian shawls were fashionable, this perfume was most fashionable in 
our country, for its presence was held to be a sure test of a genuine 
Indian shawl. In the 1850's the French manufacturers of imitation 
Indian shawls began importing patchouli to scent their imitation 
ea and since that time the perfume has ceased to be fashionable 
ere. 
Poinciana regia, or ROYAL PoINCIANA, is a member of the Leguminosae, 
the family to which our locust belongs. The tree is a native of Mad- 
agascar, but is now planted in all frostless countries of the world. It 
