Young trees seem unable to maintain an upright position without
support, but overcome this apparent weakness with age. The bark
is light-colored and irregularly furrowed.
 The silver-trumpet-tree, Tabebuia argentea, a native of Para-
guay, is a smaller tree, seldom reaching 40 feet, with leaves having
5 to 7 leaflets which are silvery on both sides. Yellow flowers, to
21/2 inches long, are borne on terminal panicles in late winter.
 Trumpet-trees are adapted to dry locations. They are used as
accent and specimen lawn trees for flower effect and in patio and road-
side plantings. Trees are subject to attack by scales, mites and cater-
pillars, but this does not restrict their use.

 Tamarindus indica. Leguminosae. Tamarind. Southern area.
Evergreen. Asia and Northern Africa.
 Tamarind is slow-growing, large, round-topped and spreading,
usually low branching, and has a heavy trunk. It grows to a height
of 80 feet (Fig. 54). Leaves are pinnately compound with numerous
leaflets producing a fine feathery texture and there is no season when
the tree is entirely without foliage. Flowers are pale yellow, 1 inch
across, appearing in racemes during summer months. Fruit is a pod
with a hard, brittle, suede-like shell containing an edible pulp around
the seeds that is acid but has pleasing flavor.
 Throughout extreme southern Florida, tamarind thrives in fertile
soils and is desirable where a large tree is wanted. It also grows well
on the rocky soils of the Miami-Homestead area. Tamarind is wind-
resistant and useful as a background or shade tree. It looks good in
naturalistic plantings. No serious insect or disease problems are
known to affect this tree.


Fig. 54.-Tamarind, Tamarindus indica.