CONVOLVULUS. 101 



There are comparatively few of these plants cultivated 

 in our gardens. The following are some of the most 

 esteemed. 



The Two-coloured; white and purple, flowering in 

 June, July, and August. The Hairy Convolvulus, with 

 purple flowers, blowing at the same time. These are 

 natives of the East Indies. 



The Five-petaled ; blue, with a yellow centre : native of 

 Majorca. Flowers from June to August. 



The Indigo Convolvulus, which is named from the co- 

 lour of its flowers : it is a native of America, and considered 

 one of the handsomest of the genus. The Italians call it 

 campana azurea [azure-bell], and ^or di ?iotte [night-flower], 

 because its beauty appears most at night. It blows in July 

 and August. 



Of the Major Convolvulus there are three or four va- 

 rieties ; purple, white, red, and pale blue. It is a native 

 of America. It requires support, and will grow ten or 

 twelve feet high; continuing in flower from the begin- 

 ning of June till the approach of frost. 



The Minor Convolvulus is a native of Spain and Por- 

 tugal; the flowers are sometimes pure white, but more 

 commonly variegated with blue and yellow, or blue and 

 white : the most beautiful kind is a bright blue, fading, by 

 delicate gradations, to a pure white in the centre. It 

 resembles the blue atmosphere, relieved by fleecy clouds, 

 on a fine day in summer : 



" when on high. 

 Through clouds of fleecy white, laughs the cerulean sky." 



Keats. 



Nor is the form of this flower less beautiful than the 

 colour, either when spread out in full beauty to the mid- 

 day sun, or when, at the approach of night, it closes its 

 blue eye to sleep. 



