Evening star., 1941-09-13

for railroad sleepers, which are said
to last from 9 to II years, depending
on the variety of ipe employed.
Found in many parts of the coun-
try. the tree is also celebrated by
poets.
Chile's flower is the copihue, a
native vine with red, white and pink
flowers that hang down like rows Of
bells. A special significance belongs
to the red blooms, since they are
said to represent the blood shed by
the Araucanian chiefs during the
200 years they fought for inde-
pendence.
Ecuador favors the quinine tree,
whose product is so well known as
cure for malaria. Sulphate OF
ouinine is the form in which 1t is
usually taken, and it is described as
"the most important alkaloid con-
tanned in cinchona bark" Cinchona
belongs to the evergreen family of
trees, and it is the bark that fur
nishes the drug.
Mexico has given the honor of
national floral emblem to a native
beauty. The dahlia is Mexican
born. but takes its name from Dahl
the noted Swedish botanist, who
brought it to its present perfection
Through cultivation 1t has become
favorite inhabitant Of North
American gardens
The white heliotrope, Nicaragua's
national flower, needs no introduc-
tion north of the border, where
It's chief distinctions are per-
fume of haunting sweetness and
a blossom of appealing daintiness
The meaning of its name is worth
remembering, too, for it signifies
turning toward the sun"
El Salvador's choice Is a prac-
tical one-the coffee tree. 1t grows
into great beauty, with fragrant
snow white blossoms standing out
against shining evergreen leaves
The ripe fruit adds the color OF
deep scarlet, and the shape of the
tree is such as to suggest gorgeous
pagoda.
Guatemala and Panama are both
devotees of the orchid. Guate-
mala's flower Is the white orchid
while Panama's is the dove" Or
child also called the Holy Ghost
flower. This blossom, which is OF
an alabaster whiteness, appears tc
be centered by the faint image OF
a dove.
When Paraguay sought to choose
a floral emblem which would be
representative of the country. q
special meeting of botanists, poets
and artists was convened by the
government. Their selection in
cludes a tree as well as a flower
the lily and the lapacho tree. This
tree bears lilac, white and yellow
flowers, the latter shade being con-
secrated by the Incas to the sun
Cuba has chosen to honor the
royal palm as a national flower
majestic creature that rises Sc
feet into the air, then spreads its
broad leaves in graceful fan-fash-
ion.
AS far as can be ascertained al
present, neither Colombia nor Vene-
zuela have chosen a special floral
emblem.
These flowers play the role OF
national symbols among represen-
tatives from 46 nations in the Gar
den of Peace, which has graced La
Plata, Argentina, since 1886. Ex-
quisite tribute to the vision of DR.
Alberto v. Oitaven, director of park,
of La Plata, its realization wa,
largely effected by international aid
Botanists, universities and museum.
throughout the world co-operatec
In the plan, while generous assist.
ance was given by foreign diplo.
mats in Argentina and Argentina.
diplomats in other countries. Ths
flowers, which are native to many
different countries and climates
run the gamut in variety from the
modest clover to the magniflcenr
orchid.
In this brilliant floral company
the United States is represented
not by any rare and exotic bloom
but by the wild rose Of meadow
and hedsero~ and eourtry lane.