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ters close together without any leaflets between them, and not longer 

 than the leaf. It is perennial, and a native of both the Indies, 

 flowering from July to October. 



There are several varieties in the colour of the flowers, as purple 

 or red, white, yellow, variegated purple and white, and variegated 

 purple and yellow, but which resolve themselves into two principal 

 varieties; as with purple and white flowers, which are variable; some 

 being plain purple, others plain white, but most of them variegated 

 with the two colours, and all found occasionally on the same plant; 

 and with red and yellow flowers, generally mixed, but sometimes 

 distinct on the same plant; some plants having only plain flowers, 

 others only variegated, and others again both plain and variegated: 

 but the plants which are raised from seeds of the purple and white 

 never produce red and yellow flowers, or the contrary. 



All these varieties are highly ornamental during the months of 

 July, August, and September, and when the season continues mild, 

 often last till near the end of October. The flowers opening only 

 towards the evening, while the weather continues warm, but in 

 moderate cool weather, when the sun is obscured, they continue open 

 almost the whole clay, and are produced so plentifully at the ends of 

 the branches, that when expanded the plant seems entirely covered 

 with them, and from some being plain, others variegated, on the 

 same plant, have a fine appearance. 



The second species resembles the first sort very much: the stalks 

 have thick swollen joints: the leaves are smaller: the flowers not 

 much more than half the size, and do not vary in their colour from 

 their natural purplish-red: the fruit is very rough. It is a native of 

 Mexico; and common in the West Indies, where it is termed the 

 Four o'Clock Flower, from the circumstance of the flowers opening at 

 that time of the day. 



In the third, the stalks fall on the ground, if not supported; they 

 grow about three feet in length, and divide into several branches; are 

 hairy and clammy: the flowers come out at the ends of the branches, 

 are white, have very long slender tubes, and a faint musky odour, as 



in the other sorts; are shut during the day, and expand as the sun 



2 p 



