Tab. 5432. 

 QUAMOCLIT Nationis. 



Mr. Nations Qua mod it. 



Nat. Ord. CoNVOLVCLACEjE. — Pentandria Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Sepala 5, ssepius mucronata. Corolla tubuloso-cylindrica. Stamina 

 exserta. Stylus 1. Stigma capitatura, bilobura. Ovarium 4-loculare, loculis 

 monospermis. — Herbae volubiles, plerague Americana. C/wis. 



Quamoclit Nationis ; perennis, radice tuberosa, foliis cordato-acuminatis oranino 

 integris glabris, pedunculis folio longiorilms tri-multifloris, sepalis mucro- 

 nato-acuminatis, corollae tubo elongato cylindrico albo, limbo diametro 2-un- 

 ciali aurantiaco. 



The old and extensive genus Convolvulus of Linnaeus has been 

 of late years split up into numerous genera, but, in the opinion of 

 able botanists, in many instances on very insufficient grounds ; 

 and one has an example under Ipomoza filicaulis, BL, given in 

 our last number, for February, Tab. 5426, of the great multipli- 

 cation of species on no better principles. It behoves me to steer 

 clear of an error of this kind, for I was at first disposed to refer 

 this splendidly-coloured flower to a gigantic form of Ipomcea. or 

 Quamoclit, coccinea of our gardens. It has many of the essential 

 characteristics of that well-known species, where the colour of its 

 flower is notoriously variable. True, the difference in size is 

 very unexpected, and is not at all exaggerated in our figure ; and 

 we have but to look at the Plate of Ipomcea (or Calonyction) 

 Bona-Nox, given at our Tab. 752, with its large white flowers, 

 not unlike in size and form some Datura, and compare with it 

 the var. ft of Bot. Reg. t. 290, with its singularly small and 

 purple flowers (a var. too generally acknowledged), to assure our- 

 selves that other Convolvulacece vary in a no less remarkable 

 degree. Still there are characters in this plant which compel 

 me to adopt it as new. It is perennial, its long stems, running 

 the whole length from the ground up the rafters of the green- 

 house, arise from a large tuber. The leaves are never otherwise 

 than cordate and entire, the sepals are less mucronate, and the 



march 1st, 1864-. 



