There is such a wealth of attractive material among exotic trees that are adapted to the soil and climate of Florida that it is hard to know what to choose and what to reject. I have over one hundred species of ornamental tropical trees in my grounds without including palms and I have only a mere fraction of what may be grown.

Acacia

A large genus of trees and shrubs mostly from Australia, having compound leaves (sometimes phyllodia) and cylindrical or globular heads of flowers. I have tried a dozen or more species under various conditions and have met with almost total failure. A. neriifolia does fairly well.

Adansonia Digitata, Baobab Tree Of Tropical Africa

Adansonia Digitata, Baobab Tree Of Tropical Africa, reaches enormous dimensions, the trunks sometimes attaining a diameter of thirty feet, though the height of the tree rarely equals eighty. The wood is remarkably soft; the leaves of young trees are simple but those of larger ones are trifoliate, and at a later stage of growth digitate. The flowers are large and handsome; the fruit is the size of a small melon, and is edible. I have a small tree which grows very slowly; another in Miami has bloomed.

Adenanthera Pavonina, Circassian Bean

Adenanthera Pavonina, Circassian Bean, is an attractive tree with compound leaves and spikes of brownish flowers. These are followed by spiral pods containing brilliant scarlet, lenticular beans which are used in its native country, India, for food and for forming elegant necklaces. It is a rapid grower and is somewhat hardy.

Ailanthus Glandulosa, Tree Of Heaven

Ailanthus Glandulosa, Tree Of Heaven, is a very rapid grower from China, having immense pinnate leaves which have a decidedly tropical appearance. It should succeed in the upper parts of the state but it sprouts badly.

Albizzia Lebbek

Albizzia Lebbek is a vigorous, rapid growing tree which I have mentioned in the chapter on trees for roads. When young it is somewhat tender but with age will be hardy in lower Florida. It is a fine ornamental and grows to a great size in pine land. A. julibrissin is much hardier, being cultivated as far north as Washington. It is a handsome tree, and does well in the northern part of the state. Mr. C. E. Pleas informs me that it is naturalized around Chipley.

Aleurites Triloba, Or Candle-Nut Of The Moluccas

Aleurites Triloba, Or Candle-Nut Of The Moluccas, is a rapid growing tree with large, trilobed leaves which bears clusters of small white flowers, the leaves surrounding the flower heads being silvery. It bears a soft, two-celled fruit, each cell containing a nut somewhat resembling a walnut. The entire kernel is rich in oil and has a flavor equal to that of English walnuts. The tree is quite ornamental at all stages and grows well and bears fruit in lower Florida. It should be planted in a protected place as it breaks badly in high winds. A. cordata from South China is a handsome tree and is doing finely in the grounds of Professor Nehrling at Gotha. One or two other species have been cultivated in Florida.

Amherstia Nobilis

Amherstia Nobilis from India is considered by many the most magnificent flowering tree in the world. It has compound leaves and immense candelabrum-like sprays of brilliant red and yellow flowers drooping from every branch. Macmillan says that in Ceylon it does not seem to flourish near the sea. It should be tried in the warmer parts of Florida and if it could be made to succeed it would be a splendid acquisition.

Araucaria

Araucaria is a genus of noble conifers from the warmer parts of the Southern Hemisphere, several of which do well in Florida. A. excelsa, Norfolk Island Pine, largely cultivated in the north as a pot plant, makes a lofty tree in the more tropical part of the state, and is very handsome and striking. A. bidwilli, Bunya-bunya Pine of Australia, is a noble tree much hardier than excelsa, flourishing as far north as Tampa. It is doing splendidly with me and promises soon to become a large tree. A. brazilien-sis, if one can believe the pictures of it, must be one of the most striking trees in the vegetable kingdom. I have not succeeded with it so far. A. imbricata, Monkey Puzzle from Chile, has totally failed here but it may do something in clayey soil in northern Florida. Mr. Frank MacLaren of Fernandina informs me that A. bidwilli succeeds there with some protection.

Barringtonia

Barringtonia is a genus of beautiful flowered trees from the East Indian region, none of which, so far as I know, have been tried in Florida. The species should be planted in moist places near the sea.

Bauhinia

A large genus of trees, shrubs and vines from the Old and New World Tropics, all of which, so far as I have seen tried, do well in South Florida. The queen of them all is B. purpurea of which a specimen in Fort Myers has reached a height of nearly forty feet with a trunk diameter of two feet. Its gorgeous variegated purple flowers that open in late winter are like those of some superb orchid. B. alba has white flowers, blooming at intervals through the year; B. furfuracea is a thorny tree with white nocturnal blossoms; B. krugii has pink and yellow flowers; B. triandria seems to be represented here by two varieties, one with pale purplish flowers, the other having them pink and white striped. B. tomentosa has yellow flowers. Most of these will stand some frost and if mounded up in winter would go through a hard freeze with a loss of only the tops. They should be planted in all gardens.