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Large Shrubs Scattered: In tropical America the deciduous or seasonal forest is widespread though scattered. It occurs along the Pacific slope of Mexico and Central America, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and northern Guatemala, and in parts of the West Indies, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and eastern and southern Brazil. The Chaco of northern Argentina, southeastern Bolivia, and western Paraguay is a mixture of mostly deciduous trees, especially legumes, spiny shrubs, scattered palms, and grasses.
The small trees are only 15 to 30 feet high and the large shrubs scattered shrubs are scattered and often far apart, mostly spiny and with small, usually deciduous, leaves. Common leguminous trees such as acacia (Acacia) and mesquite (Prosopis) have flat-topped crowns like parasols of thin, delicate foliage. Fleshy evergreens, or stem succulents, are common. Cacti are familiar New World examples, replaced in the Old World by euphorbias and unrelated plants of similar habit. Annual herbs appear after rains.
Using too many plants often results from not knowing how fast shrubs grow and their ultimate dimensions. Desire for immediate, filled in, finished appearance is also responsible. Where the latter is important use a few, large shrubs scattered specimens rather than many smaller ones. The cost may not be much greater, the effect will be better and the shrubs won't crowd and spoil each other quickly. Alternatively, set moderate sized plants that are to remain permanently at distances appropriate to their mature less important than foliage; if you use them be sure the colors go with your house— magenta azaleas against red brick are disturbing! Evergreens should form a substantial part of all foundations; they may be used alone or in combination with leaf losers. Use plenty of groundcovers to tie the shrubs together. |
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