VERBENA. 213 



Troprif^um peregrinum. Canary Bird flower. This is a 

 beautiful climber, known as the Canary Bird flower. The 

 charming little canary-colored blossoms, when half expanded, 

 have P. pretty and fanciful likeness to little birds. The plant, 

 like the type of the genus, has a fine, luxuriant, rambling char- 

 acter. It succeeds best in a light soil. If the seeds are planted 

 in April or May, by the side of a trellis or arbor, they will soon 

 cover considerable space, and produce its curious, lively flowers 

 from July till the severe frosts of autumn destroy it. In rich, 

 heavy soil it runs very much to vine, and produces its flowers 

 very sparingly. The foliage is similar to the common species, 

 but much more delicate. 



Tropceolum majus. Nasturtium. This is a well known 

 ornamental annual, of easy cultivation. It flowers best in a 

 light soil. It looks well trained to a trellis, or over a wall. 

 The flowers are rich orange, shaded with crimson and various 

 colors ; the variety with crimson or blood-colored flowers makes 

 a fine contrast with the orange. The seeds are used as a sub- 

 stitute for capers, and the flowers sometimes eaten as salads. 



VERBENA. 



Loudon says, it is a genus of weedy plants, which was in 

 fact the case before the introduction of Verbena chamcedrifolia. 

 with the exception of the Verbena aubletia, and Lambertii. 



Verbena ckameedrifolia, Germander-leaved. Synonym. V. 

 Melindres, Scarlet-flowered Vervain. This plant is a native 

 of Buenos Ayres, growing through a very extensive tract of 

 country. The dazzling, brilliant, scarlet flowers cannot be 

 exceeded by any other plant yet introduced into this country ; 

 and blooming from May to November, in the open air, with us, 

 makes it one of the most desirable plants in cultivation. 



From the above species have been raised innumerable splen- 

 did varieties, of every color and tint, excepting yellow and blue. 

 Some varieties are of a bluish-purple, ruby-purple, lilac and 



