51 



PHARBlTlS ostiina. 

 Royal Purple Gaybine. 



PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

 Nat. Ord. CONVOLVULACE^. 



PHARBITIS. Botanical Register, vol. 2Z. fol. 1983. 



P. ostrina ; radice tuberosa, foliis hastatis tripartitis glabris subtiis glauce- 

 scentibus ; lobis ovatis obtuse acuminatis, pedunculis 3-4-floris petiolis 

 duplo brevioribus, sepalis glabris obtusissimis, corolla infundibulari 

 limbo piano obsolete decemlobo rotundato. 



This fine plant is referred to the genus Pharbitis, on 

 account of its three-celled ovary, with two ovules in each 

 cell ; but it has all the habit of a Batatas. 



It is a very beautiful climber ; obtained last year by 

 Messrs, Loddiges from Cuba. The roots are large and tube- 

 rous ; the stem perishing every winter, but growing out 

 rapidly in the spring to the length of twenty feet or more, 

 and producing abundance of blossoms. 



All these fleshy-rooted Bines are of the easiest culture. 

 They should be grown in a mixture of good sandy loam and 

 leaf-mould, to which may be added a small portion of sandy 

 peat if the loam is strong. 



They require plenty of room for their tops, and should be 

 freely supplied with moisture, both overhead and to the roots, 

 during the growing season ; but when the plant has done 

 flowering, moisture should be gradually withheld, until the 

 soil in the pots becomes dry. Then the roots should be re- 

 moved from the soil, and be placed either in paper or in very 

 dry sand, for a month or two. 



As the season returns they must be again potted ; re- 

 ceiving little water at first, but plenty of heat to start them. 

 They are easily increased from cuttings of the young shoots. 



