# File lib/tree.rb, line 287
    def exists?(cidr)
        found = false

        # validate object
        if ( !cidr.kind_of?(NetAddr::CIDR) )
            begin
                cidr = NetAddr::CIDR.create(cidr)
            rescue Exception => error
                raise ArgumentError, "Provided argument raised the following " +
                                     "errors: #{error}"
            end
        end

        found = true if (find_me(cidr))
        return(found)
    end