The original specimen reached Knypersley as early as 1836, but made no attempt to flower until the 
spring of 1840, when the spike, after attaining the length of several feet, was unluckily broken off. 
Sir Tuomas Actanp was more fortunate, and in the ensuing summer had the satisfaction of flowering 
the species in high perfection in his garden at Killerton. The spike then produced was exhibited at a 
meeting of the Horticultural Society, from whence it passed into the hands of the artist, who has furnished 
a most characteristic representation. ‘The species is less bright in its colouring than was expected, but no 
doubt many varieties exist, and perhaps some of these may as far surpass the subject of the plate as others 
certainly fall short of it; among the latter may be ranked one that flowered at Knypersley last year (1841), 
the blossoms of which were much paler, and in all respects inferior to those of the figure. 
In cultivation this is the most manageable species of the untractable genus to which it belongs. Sus- 
pension on a block of wood, in a hot and damp situation, appears to be the condition most congenial to its 
growth, but a season of rest is necessary to induce it to flower. Yet even in the collections where it 
succeeds the best, it lacks the vigour exhibited in imported specimens. 
The ants of Honduras, as it has been already shown, turn to good account the long hollow stems of this 
singular plant; another purpose to which they are applied may be gathered from the Vignette, where an 
Indian child is seen sounding with all his might “an echoing horn,” formed by merely cutting off the 
extremities. His companions emulate his musical ardour, but in their attempts to possess the matériel 
are interrupted by a catastrophe. 
In such request are these vegetable trumpets among the wild urchins of Honduras, that the plant 
yielding them is called “the trumpet-plant,”—an epithet that has suggested its specific name. 
‘‘MAGNIS TAMEN EXCIDIT AUSIS.” 
