Pithecolobium Dulce

Pithecolobium Dulce is a rapid grower with bipinnate leaves, the leaflets in pairs, which I have discussed under the head of shade trees for roads. P. saman has four to six pairs of pinnae, the outer leaflets being largest. It is one of the standard shade trees for roads in Cuba and though I had tried it repeatedly here it failed until recently. I have it now doing finely and it will probably make a large and attractive ornamental for lower Florida.

Pimenta Officinalis, The Allspice Of Jamaica

Pimenta Officinalis, The Allspice Of Jamaica, is an attractive tree with thick, elongated, glossy leaves and white flowers in corymbs. It is growing finely and has bloomed in my hammock.

Plumeria

A small genus of fine trees from the American Tropics with white, pink or red, very fragrant flowers from which the perfume called Frangipani is made. The branches are club-shaped; the flowers are in heads and handsome. P. alba has white flowers; P. rubra rich red; P. acutifolia white within and pink outside; P. tricolor, yellow, red and white. They do best in dry, rather poor soil and can be grown from cuttings if care is taken that they are kept pretty dry.

Podocarpus

A genus of ornamental conifers of which a few species have been cultivated in Florida. P. macrophylla from Japan is doing well with me and is quite striking. My specimen is twelve feet high and has sent out a number of stems which are densely set with large, dark green leaves. According to Schnabel it is tender at Gainesville.

Ricinus, Castor Bean

This well-known bedding plant of northern gardens reaches the dimensions of a tree here. When grown in rich soil and fertilized it produces quite a tropical effect but it is likely to become scraggy. The variety or species called sanguineus is dwarfed in habit and has purple-crimson foliage. They are tender.

Saraca Indica

When I first received this I planted it in pine land in sunshine and for years it did no good. Later I transplanted it to a more moist, somewhat shaded place where it is now doing well. Like Brownea its young pinnate leaves are purplish and drooping; it also has fine red flowers. It is probably tender.

Schinus Molle

I have repeatedly failed with this beautiful tree, but it may do better in soil that is free from lime. S. terebinthifolius has also failed with me. Reasoner reports that the latter does well with him.

Schizolobium Excelsum

Schizolobium Excelsum is a noble tree from Brazil which has been introduced into Florida. I have had it reach twelve feet but it was badly hurt in a freeze and never fully recovered. Its immense decompound leaves are very beautiful.

Sciadophyllum Pulchrum

Sciadophyllum Pulchrum is probably the correct name of a tree received as Aralia pulchra. It has beautiful, glossy, digitate foliage and when well grown is an elegant object. There is a good specimen in the grounds of the Royal Palm Hotel at Miami. Tender, no doubt.

Sciadopitys Verticellata

Sciadopitys Verticellata is a tall, slow growing conifer from Japan with elegant whorls of curved leaves and attractive, curiously sculptured cones. It ought to be hardy anywhere in Florida. I do not know that it has been introduced but it should be tried in moderately moist, rich soil in the upper districts.

Spathodea Campanulata

Spathodea Campanulata is a superb flowering tree from tropical Africa, belonging to the Bignoniaceae, having large, light green, pinnate leaves and great, flattened, one-sided, pitcher-shaped flowers. These are dull red, bordered yellow and the effect of the tree when in bloom is wonderful. It is a rapid grower but very tender and should be planted in a sheltered place. It blooms when quite small.

Sterculia

A large genus of ornamental trees mostly from the warmer parts of the Old World. Several have been cultivated in Florida and some are quite handsome. S. foetida from tropical Africa has dull red flowers and striking leaves; S. acerifolium is the same as Brachychiton acerifolium; S. alata from India has very large, ovate cordate leaves; S. carthagenensis has large, handsome palmate leaves and interesting flowers. S. platanifolia is a striking tree that is almost hardy in Washington. It has grown very slowly with me, merely putting out healthy leaves each year, but there is a fine specimen in the grounds of the Flagler residence at Palm Beach. It may be that a limy soil is distasteful to it.

Stereospermum Suaveolens

Stereospermum Suaveolens is an Indian tree with immense compound leaves and dull red or purplish flowers. S. sinicum is a handsomer tree from China with yellow blossoms. The latter is hardy up to the middle of the state, the former is tender.

Tabebuia Pentaphylla

Tabebuia Pentaphylla has been distributed as Bignonia aden-ophylla. It is a native of Cuba and has digitate leaves and large clusters of handsome purplish pink, trumpet-shaped flowers. It has bloomed finely for me.

Tamarindus Indica, Tamarind

Tamarindus Indica, Tamarind, is a noble tree, almost worshipped in India, having pinnate leaves and small, yellowish, pea-shaped flowers, often striped with red. The pods contain a sweetish or subacid pulp that is used in making cooling drinks. It will stand some frost.

Terminalia Catappa, Tropical Almond

Terminalia Catappa, Tropical Almond, is a famous tree which is probably a native of the warmer parts of Asia but which has been distributed all over the tropics. It bears rosettes of immense obovate, shining leaves at the ends of its whorled, horizontal branches, and nuts resembling almonds, but whose small, sweet kernel has a rather thick shell. It is somewhat tender and in subtropical regions its leaves assume most gorgeous tints of yellow, red, scarlet and purple before they fall, autumn leaves without frost. In the tropics they remain green all winter.

Theobroma Cacao

Theobroma Cacao is a small tree with good-sized handsome leaves, which bears large fruits that contain cocoa seeds. It is very tender and has totally failed with me.

Theophrasta

A genus of handsome leaved trees from tropical America which ought to be tried in extreme southern Florida.

Thevetia Neriifolia

Thevetia Neriifolia is an attractive but poisonous small tree from the West Indies. It has slender, shining leaves and handsome, fragrant, funnel-shaped flowers which are followed by curious, large seeds called "Sailor's Lucky Beans." There is a salmon-flowered variety.

Thespesia

A genus of tropical trees containing some fine ornamentals. T. grandiflora is a native of Porto Rico and has large, cordate leaves and very large, bell-shaped, rosy crimson flowers. It promises to become one of the finest of our ornamentals for lower Florida.