180 TKOP^OLUM TT5IBELLA.TUM. 



unique umbellate character of its copious flowers, and tlie -warmth and variety 

 of their tints, entitle it to rank among the most interesting of the species yet 

 discovered. It appears to have been first detected by Professor Jameson of Quito, 

 on the mountain Pilzhum, one of the Peruvian Andes, at an elevation of 7000 

 feet above the sea-level, and was subsequently found in the same locality by 

 Messrs. Veitch's collector. Mr. W. Lobb, through whom it was introduced to 

 this country, in 1846. 



It is a fibrous rooted perennial of climbing habit, with smooth, flexuose or 

 zig-zag stems tinged with reddish purple, and alternate foliage of medium size, 

 divided usually into five obtuse oval lobes, which gives it an elegant outline, 

 closely approximating to that of the Ivy-leaf : the petiole is long, slender, and 

 twining ; and at its base occur two small stipules, which makes this plant another 

 exception to the character of this genus as originally defined. ¥e may observe, 

 too, that even the common T. majus has its first pair of leaves accompanied by 

 these appendages, and it is not at all improbable that, in other species in which 

 they are usually supposed to be absent, they may be present at the same stage 

 of their growth. The flowers are produced in stalked umbels of three to six 

 blossoms from the axils of the leaves on the upper portions of the shoots, and 

 are so abundant that the foliage is almost overpowered ; their ornamental effect 

 is chiefly due to the bright tints of the calyx, which is green at the tip, orange- 

 red in the middle, and yellow at the mouth, where it is divided into five blunt 

 segments : the petals themselves are of a dull red colour, and, as is usual in 

 this genus, unequal in size, the three lowest being considerably the largest; 

 the two upper ones, which are hardly perceptible in our figure, are very small 

 and narrow, and all of them have their margins finely toothed. 



The height at which it occurs in its native region naturally favoured the 

 supposition that it would prove nearly hardy in this country, and this has been 

 confirmed by actual experiment, Messrs. Veitch having not only grown it 

 successfully in the open ground during the summer months, but left it exposed 

 with impunity through the winter season, though, to be sure, the climate of 

 Devonshire is some degrees warmer than that of the more northerly and eastern 

 counties. "Whether it will really endure complete exposure in other places we 

 have as yet no actual proof; but even should its roots require protection from 

 severe frost in winter, which is not improbable, this will scarcely detract from 

 its value as an ornamental plant for the borders in summer. It is no small 

 recommendation of the plants of this genus, that they will not only grow 

 shady places, and northerly or north-westerly exposures, but in many instances 

 succeed far better in such aspects than in warmer and more sunny ones, 

 and in this respect the T. umbellatum is no exception to its congeners. 

 For covering a north wall in airy situations it will prove of considerable 



