BEAUMONTIA 81 



retrofractus, A. scandens, and A. umbellatus. The last- 

 named has somewhat large, star-like flowers. These plants 

 all have fleshy roots, and they revel in rich soil, plenty of 

 water, and a sunny position, with as much heat as they can 

 get. Propagated from seeds or division. 



BAUHINIA 



A large and widely distributed genus of tropical trees 

 or climbers, with peculiarly bilobed leaves, circinate 

 tendrils, and usually large, showy flowers. B. Vaklii, the 

 " Maloo " of India, often climbs over the tallest forest trees, 

 and with its rope-like, twining stems sometimes strangles 

 them. It is a useful climber for a large tropical conser- 

 vatory, such as the Palm House at Kew. B.ferruginea is 

 another large-leaved species which is useful in the same 

 way. Neither of these has been known to flower in this 

 country. B. corymbosa is a beautiful climber with small 

 green leaves and flowers in corymbs on the smaller 

 branches, the red buds and pink open flowers being very 

 decorative. It is a native of China, as also is B. yunnan- 

 enszs, a somewhat similar plant. These two are happy in 

 an ordinary greenhouse. 



BEAUMONTIA 



Beaumontia is an Indian genus of evergreen climbers 

 with large, opposite leaves and handsome, white flowers 

 produced in crowded clusters on the short shoots. B. 

 grandiflora, the best known, sometimes climbs to the top 

 of high trees, and under cultivation it will, with a little 

 management, cover a large pillar or rafter, and flower 

 most profusely in early spring. The flowers in form and 



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