Red and Indefinites 



Trumpet-flower; Trumpet-creeper 



(Tecoma radicans) Trumpet-creeper family 



Flowers — Red and veined within, paler and inclined toward tawny 

 without, trumpet-shaped, about 2]^. in, long, the limb with 5 

 rounded lobes ; 2 to 9 flowers in the terminal clusters ; 

 anther-bearing stamens 4, in pairs, under upper part of tube ; 

 I pistil. Stem : A woody vine 20 to 40 ft. long, prostrate or 

 climbing. Leaves : Opposite, pinnately compounded of 7 

 to 1 1 ovate, saw-edged leaflets. 



Preferred Habitat — Moist, rich woods and thickets. 



Flowering Season — August — September. 



Distribution — New Jersey and Pennsylvania, westward to Illinois, 

 and south to the Gulf States. Occasionally escaped from 

 gardens farther north. 



From early May until the middle of October, the ruby-throated 

 humming bird forsakes the tropics to spend the flowery months 

 with us. Which wild flowers undertake to feed him .? Years 

 before showy flowers were brought from all corners of the earth 

 to adorn our gardens, about half a dozen natives in that parterre of 

 Nature's east of the Mississippi catered to him in orderly succession. 

 In feasting at their board he could not choose but reciprocate the 

 favor by transferring their pollen as they took pains to arrange 

 matters. Nectar and tiny insects he is ever seeking. Of course 

 hundreds of flowers secrete nectar which taxes them little ; and 

 while the vast majority of these are avowedly adapted to insect 

 benefactors, what is to prevent the bird's needle-like bill from 

 probing the sweets from most of them .^ Certain flowers depend- 

 ent on him, finding that the mere offering of nectar was not 

 enough to insure his fidelity, that he was constantly lured away, 

 had to offer some especially strong attractions to make his regular 

 visits sure. How did these learn that red is irresistibly fascinating 

 to him, and orange scarcely less so, perhaps for the sake of the 

 red that is mixed with the yellow } To-day we find such fiowers 

 as need him sorely, wearing his favorite colors. But even this 

 delicate attention is not enough. He demands that his refresh- 

 ments shall be reserved for him in a tube so deep or inaccessible 

 that, when he calls, he will find all he desires, notwithstanding 

 the occasional intrusion of such long-tongued insects as bumble- 

 bees, butterfiies, and moths. First the long-spurred red and 

 yellow columbine and the painted cup, then the coral honey- 

 suckle, jewel-weed, trumpet-creeper, Oswego tea, and cardinal 

 flower have the honor of catering to the exacting little sprite 

 from spring to autumn. His sojourn in our gardens is prolonged 



390 



