MAURANDIA MARTYNEA. 193 



rather conceal the flowers ; but if moderately enriched, it will 

 produce one mass of bloom. I find it profitable to give all my 

 flower-beds an addition of fresh soil every winter, generally 

 adding about two or three inches deep. If the Molope grandi- 

 flora is not desired to come into bloom before the beginning of 

 August, the seed may be sown in April or May, in the open 

 border where it is desired that the plants shall blossom. The 

 plant produces seed in abundance, which ripen well from plants 

 that bloom early in the summer. 



MAURANDIA. 



Maurandia Barclayana is an elegant green-house, climbing 

 perennial, but may be raised from seed, and brought forward in 

 a frame, so as to flower profusely from August to October, or till 

 severe frosts later in the season. Plants may be had at most 

 green-houses, at small expense, which, put out in the border 

 with a little frame to which to attach its tendrils, will be loaded 

 with its rich, purple, foxglove-shaped flowers, every day 

 through the season. There are a number of other varieties, 

 all handsome. The plants will grow from five to ten feet 

 high. 



MARTYNEA. 



Unicorn Plant. 



Handsome tropical annuals, remarkable for the size of their 

 flowers, compared with their leaves. 



Martynea proboscidea. Common Martynea. This plant 

 is often cultivated in vegetable gardens for its capsules, which, 

 when green and tender, make a fine pickle. It is also a 

 curious plant for the border, on account of its large flowers ; 

 but more particularly for its singularly curious seed-vessels. 



M. fragrans. Fragrant Martynea. This is a beautiful 

 new annual, that succeeds very well when sown in the open 

 17 



