conditions. Because of its flower and shape, royal poinciana is useful
as an accent specimen in the background of border plantings, and
for creating tropical effects.

 Eriobotrya japonica. Rosaceae. Loquat or Japanese Plum. South-
ern, Central and Northern areas. Evergreen. China.
 Loquat is a small tree, up to 25 feet in Florida, with a dense,
upright, rounded crown. Alternate, simple, obovate, evergreen leaves
are large, 8 to 12 inches long, and coarsely toothed. Leaves are dark
green in color with sunken veins extending to toothed margins.
White, fragrant flowers, 1/2-inch wide appear in rusty pubescent
terminal panicles in late fall. An edible, pear-shaped, yellow fruit
about 11./ inches long ripens during late winter or early spring.
 Many homeowners plant loquat for the excellent fruit of agree-
able acid flavor. Varieties that bear large fruits with pleasant flavor
must be propagated by grafting since seedling trees will not always
produce satisfactory fruit.
 Small size, evergreen foliage, complete hardiness, fragrant blos-
soms and edible fruit all combine to make loquat one of Florida's
best small trees. Recommended landscape applications include use as
a patio tree, free-standing specimen and for inclusion in a shrubbery
border. Insect pests that pose problems include scales and caterpillars,
and disease problems include fire-blight and mushroom root-rot.

 Eucalyptus spp. Myrtaceae. Eucalypts. Southern and Central
areas. Evergreen.
 At least 100 different species of Eucalyptus have been introduced
to Florida, but few can be recommended for landscape use since most
are not adapted to the state and others are too large for home plant-
ings. Listed eucalyptus species have small inconspicuous flowers and
fruits and are, therefore, used primarily for shade purposes where
shade is desired in a short period of time. No serious insect or disease
problems have been reported on these trees in Florida.
 White gum, Eucalyptus alba, was introduced from Java. In Flor-
ida trees are known to attain 60 feet in height with a 30 foot spread.
Crowns are medium-dense with scaffold limbs ascending to almost
full height. Smaller secondary branches descend in weeping fashion
from scaffold limbs. Leaves are obovate-oblong to broadly lanceolate,
pale green and glaucous. Bark is white and smooth, peeling periodi-
cally in long narrow strips. White gum serves well as a shade or
background tree and for use in public areas.
 One of the most attractive eucalypts is the silver dollar tree,
Eucalyptus cinerea. In Florida this tree attains a height of 25 feet
with an irregular crown. Leaves are simple, opposite, blue-gray in
color and rounded, and clasp the stem. In general, leaves have the
size and appearance of a silver dollar. Silver dollar tree serves well