ENG-1952 — Page 247

Trees

III

HONG KONG TREES AND FAUNA

The most common trees native to Hong Kong and the New Territories are camphor, laichee, chinese banyan and pine.

At the time of its foundation as a Colony, Hong Kong Island was sparsely wooded except for an area around Happy Valley. Since this time many trees have been imported and the Colony may now boast of a wide variety.

In the Annual Reports for the past two years descriptions and photographs have been given of some of the trees of Hong Kong, and this series is continued here.

Foxglove Tree (Paulownia Fortunei)

This is a Chinese tree introduced into the Colony in 1905, for roadside planting. It is a rapidly growing ornamental tree, usually reaching a height of 30 feet. The large bell-shaped flowers which bloom in March are creamy white, heavily marked with deep purple in- side, and flushed with lilac on the outside surface. The beautiful flowers are produced in great profusion when the tree is usually bare of foliage. A great number grow along Stubbs Road and near to Repulse Bay. There are several fine specimens to be seen in the Botanic Gardens. The wood is used for making sandals, boxes, furniture and musical instruments, and is also suitable for making charcoal for gunpowder. The bark, leaf and flower are used as medicine by the Chinese.

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