1.
Heritiera littoralis-Looking Glass Tree.
An evergreen tree of medium height of very distinct and ornamental appearance. The large, crowded, oblong leaves ar silvery underneath, so that shadows strike very clearly upon them, hence its common name the Looking Glass Tree. The flowers are unimportant but the dense clusters of brown- beaked fruit, each the size of a large walnut, are interesting.
2.
Cinnamomum Camphora—Camphor Tree.
A large spreading slow growing tree, native of China is obtained by and Japan. The Camphor of commerce distilling wood and leaves of this tree. Grown commonly in the Colony.
3.
Cerbera Odollum-False Mango.
A small tree, native of Malaya, India and South China with opposite leaves covered at first as also the flowers buds with a resinous coating. The flowers are white, star shaped, about 2 inches in diameter; the flowers fall early in the morning. Like most of the order the plant is laticiferous, but does not y.eld ruboer. The seeds are poisonous and is closely related to the ordeal poison tree of Madagascar.
4.
Bauhinia Blakeana-The Hong Kong Bauhinia.
This Bauhinia which is probably the most beautiful tree of this genus flowers from early November to the end of March. Its flowers are large up to six inches in diameter and of a rich crimson-red. Under favourable conditions it may grow to a height of 40 to 53 feet. Its origin is unknown. The tree was originally described by Mr. S. T. Dunn in 1808 which says in part:-
The trivial name of this species commemorates the kindly interest taken in the Hong Kong Botanical Gardens by Sir Henry and Lady Blake during the governorship of the former, which ended in 1903. The tree is at present a very rare one in cultivation and is likely for some time to remain so as it can only be propagated by cuttings. This is the more regretted because out of the numerous cultivated species of this charming family there is probably none that equals it either in beauty or the profusion of flowers. For more than four months the trees remain covered with their large reddish-purple bloom which develop successively on the long racemes."
Fortunately there are now many hundreds of this lovely tree in the Colony.
5.
Mangifera indica-Mango.
"
An evergreen fruit tree with a dense rounded crown of foliage and is a native of India etc. There are a number of trers in the Colony but the fruits are mostly rather poor being stringy and having a pronounced turpentine flavour.
6.
An interesting grouping of trees dominated by the very ornamented looking glass tree.
Cleistocalyx operculatus.
An introduced evergreen tree from the old world Tropics with large oval leaves. The flowers produced in great quantity are small and white, followed by purplish black edible fruits.
7. Phoenix Roebelina-Dwarf Date Palm.
The useful and decorative palm is widely planted in the Botanic Gardens and is a favourite pot plant in England and elsewhere prized for its elegant foliage.
8. Camellia japonica-Camellia.
Camellias are so well known that a description of the flower is unnecessary. The species japonica is native of China and Japan of which there are probably more than 1000 single, semi-double and double varieties in cultivation and ange from the purest white to the deepest reds. They bloom in the late winter and early spring, and flowers up to 5 inches across are often to be seen.
9.
Podocarpus macrophylla—Buddhist Pine.
An evergreen slender tree with glossy dark green foliage composed of a large number of narrow leaves.
2.
Altingia chinensis-Mountain Litchee,
A view showing the Gardens entrance of the plant slat house.
Pterocarpus indicus-Burmese Rosewood.
A beautiful shade and flowering tree, native of the Andaman Islands, but cultivated throughout India, Southern China, the Malay archipelago and the Philippines, as an ornamental. It makes a very large, spreading tree with long outflung branches, and long slender side branches that droop with the weight of the foliage. It is considered by many people among the most beautiful foliage trees of the world tropics. The lowers develop in the axils of the young leaves and in full flower the crown seems painted yellow and the air is pervaded with fragrance. Because of the colour and smell of the timber the common name Burmese Rosewood is often
scribed to this tree.
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3.
A native tree with brownish flowers.
Reevesia thyrsoidea.
A native small tree found in the woods and on the hills of Hong Kong and in the New Territories from sea level upwards. It nowers twice a year, from April to May and again in September. The flowers are white and fragrant.
4.
Eranthemum nervosum.
A shrub two to four feet high with dark green leaves and pretty blue flowers each about 3,4 inch in diameter borne on erect spikes. It flowers in late winter and is an extremely decorative plant. There is a purple flowered form in Hong Kong but it is of somewhat weaker growth.
5.
Hydrangea macrophylla var. Hortensia.
The well known showy shrub which thrives to perfection in the Peak district. At lower levels they are not so prolific of flower and flower pink. The delightful blue shade of the flowers grown at the higher elevation is due to soil conditions.
6.
Antigonon leptopus-Corallita or Honolulu Creeper.
and
A beautiful climbing plant, native of Mexico, commonly grown in the Colony for covering walls etc. The flowers 3 4 inch in diameter, much liked by bees, are borne in hanging sprays, which terminate in a tendril. There are several varieties of different shades of pink, and a white one.
7.
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens-Bamboo Palm.
One of the most popular and ornamental palms, with numerous stems, It is largely grown in pots for decorative purposes. A native of Madagascar.
The placing of brick or rubble walla, or of a small garden structure, combined with well arranged flower beds and shrubs on a background of trees, as illustrated in this page, provides the happiest combination for landscaping work.
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