222 GAMOPETALOUS EXOGENS 



believe the Farmer will find a similar condition annexed to the 

 preservation of his premises from the inroads of pernicious weeds. 

 This plant has proved to be a most obstinate nuisance, in the culti- 

 vated grounds of England; and I may add, that I have not yet 

 Seen it thoroughly extirpated from any locality, here, where it had 

 once got possession of the soil. 



g2. IPOMAEA.: Stigmas 2, globular, or united in one. 



2. C. pandur&tus, L. Stem trailing, long ; leaves cordate, 

 acuminate, or often fiddle-shaped ; flowers white, with pink tube. 

 FIDDLE-FORM CONVOLVULUS. Wild Potato-vine. 



Perennial. Stem 4 to 6 or 8 feet long, smoothish. Leaves about 3 inches long, 

 varying from roundish-cordate, to broadly sinuate and sub-lobed, on the sides, 

 approaching a fiddle-shape; petioles 1 to 2 inches in length. Peduncles 2 to 4 or 5 

 Inches long, often branched at summit, generally bearing 2 or 3 to 5 flowers, in 

 fascicles ; bracts at the base of the peduncles, small, resembling stipules ; corotta 

 about 2 inches long. 



Hob. Old fields, and borders of woods : frequent Fl. July. Fr. Sept. 

 3* C. BATATAS, L. Rhizomas thick, oblong, terete, tapering at each 

 end; stems creeping; leaves subhastate-cordate, often somewhat 

 3-lobed. 

 POTATO CONVOLVULUS, Sweet Potato. 



Perennial. Rhizomas 4 to 8 inches long, and 1 to 2 or 3 inches in diameter, 

 purple, or yellowish-white, externally, yellowish within. Stems several, 4 to 8 

 feet long, slender, pilose, prostrate and often radicating, sometimes remarkably 

 dilated, forming a kind of monstrosity. Leaves 2 to 4 inches long; petioles about 

 2 inches in length. Corolla purple (fide CHOISY, in DC.). 

 Sab. Gardens, and lots. Nat. of the Indies. Fl. 



Obs. This plant is cultivated to some extent, in Chester County, 

 for its sweet tuberous rhizomas ; but the sandy soil of New Jersey 

 seems best adapted to their perfection. I believe it has never 

 /Lowered, in this region, but is always propagated by cuttings, or 

 buds, of the tuberous rhizomas. It is said to be the Potato, spoken 

 of by writers of the Elizabethan age ; the Solanum tuberosum, L. 

 or "Irish Potato," so called (and now so common), being then 

 scarcely known in the old world. KALM states, "that species of 

 Convolvulus which is commonly called .Batatas, has here [viz. Penn- 

 sylvania,, in 1748,] the name of Bermudian Potatoes." That name 

 is certainly, now (1852), quite obsolete. CHARLES BRYANT, in his 

 Flora Diaetetica, published in 1783, says "The Batatas is a native 

 of both Indies, but has been a long time cultivated in Spain and 

 Portugal, whence the roots are annually imported." And he adds, 

 "these are certainly the same species of roots as those which 

 COLUMBUS'S Sailors were treated with by the inhabitants of Cuba, 

 and which they said were very sweet, and when boiled tasted like 

 Chestnuts." 



g 3. PHARBITIS : Stigmas mostly 3, united and subcapitate.. 



4. C. purpiireus, L. Stem twining ; leaves roundish-cordate, acumi 

 nate ; peduncles 2- or 3-flowered ; pedicels clavute. 

 PURPLE CONVOLVULUS. Morning Glory. 



