BEAUTIFUL FLOWERING TREES.

In the tropics, vegetation is generally of a fresher verdure, more luxuriant and succulent, and adorned with larger and more shining leaves than in our northern climates.

The "social plants, which often impart so uniform a character to European countries, are almost entirely absent in the equatorial regions.

Trees almost as lofty as our oaks are adorned with flowers as large and beautiful as our lilies.

On the shady banks of Rio Magdalena in South America, there grows a climbing Aristolochia, bearing flowers four feet in circumference, which the India boys draw over their heads in sport and wear as hats or helmets.

In the island of the Indian Archipelago, the flower of the Rafflesia is nearly three feet in diameter, and weighs over fourteen pounds.-- Humbolt's Aspects of Nature.