146 FLORA HISTORICA. 



receive the support of young trees, they have a 

 more agreeable effect than when upheld by a 

 stake. In Jamaica this species of Convolvulus 

 climbs the highest trees, suspending its china- 

 looking cups from the branches in a most delight- 

 ful manner, sometimes dangling in the air, and 

 at others forming graceful festoons. 



It is from this twining nature of the plant that 

 the name of Convolvulus has been bestowed on 

 it, and perhaps we have not a native weed that 

 displays a more beautiful corolla than the Great 

 Bindweed or Convolvulus Sepium, which entwines 

 itself so firmly amongst the shrubs of our 

 hedgerows until it reaches the top, where it ex- 

 pands its monopetalous flowers in a dress that 

 challenges the spotless snow for purity, and 

 would demand more general admiration were it 

 less common. 



** Witness the iieg-lect 

 Of all familiar prospects, thoug-h beheld 

 With transport once."' 



Akenside. 



However we may admire this species of Bind- 

 weed in our hedgerows, we must be cautious to 

 keep it out of shrubberies, where, if it once 

 enters, it cannot be easily eradicated, as the 

 smallest piece of its rambling roots is sufficient 

 to spread over a garden, where it frequently en- 



