descriptive list of flowers. 153 



CARDIOSPERMUM-Balloon Vine. 



[From Greek words, signifying heart and seed, in allusion to its round seeds, 

 •which are marked wiih a spot like a heart.] 



Cardiosperraura Halicacabum. — Balloon Vine. — Heart- 

 Seed. — A half-harcly annual from the West Indies ; a 

 climber. The seed should be sown between the first and 

 tenth of May, and the plant supported with brush ; four to 

 six feet high. 



The plant is remarkable for its inflated membranous 

 capsule, from which it is sometimes called Balloon Vine, 

 or Love in a Puff. The flowers are white and green, 

 without any claim to beauty. 



CASSIA. 

 Cassia Marilandica. — Maryland Cassia, Wild Senna. — 

 A hardy, indigenous perennial, four feet high, with yellow 

 flowers, from August to September. Many of this genus 

 are beautiful plants, but mostly tender ; some species are 

 sensitive, and close their leaves in wet weather, or at the 

 approach of night. 



CATANANCHE. 

 Catananchc ceerulea. — Blue Catananche. — A handsome 

 perennial, from the south of Europe, one and a half foot 

 high, with brilliant blue flowers, in July and August. It 

 has not proved perfectly hardy with me ; but believe it 

 will stand the winter better in a lighter soil than mine. 

 It grows about two feet high. Vaillant explains the 

 meaning of Catananche, by deriving it from two Greek 

 words, and signifying necessity^ that is to say, a plant 

 which compels admiration. The name was employed by 

 Dioscorides, to designate a plant used by the women of 

 Thessaly, in philtres and love potions. 



