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VERBENACEAE. 



PETKAEA. Purple Wreath. 

 (Family Verbenaceae). 



Tender twining shrubs: subde- 

 ciduous. Stems terete, moderate: 

 pith rather small, continuous, 

 pale. Buds small, solitary, ses- 

 sile, roundish, with 2 scales, or 

 an upper bud quickly developing. 

 Leaf-scars opposite, half-round or 

 shield - shaped, raised: bundle- 

 trace 1, large: stipule-scars lack- 

 ing. Leaves, if present, lanceo- 

 late, undulate, or somewhat 

 toothed above. 



Though its foliage and flowers 

 are very different, the purple 

 wreath produces something of the 

 effect of a wistaria when in bloom, 

 the flowers being borne in long 

 hanging clusters. In tropical 

 countries it is frequent as a cov- 

 ering of tree-trunks and hanging 

 from the eaves of houses. 

 Somewhat pubescent: cortex cracking below. P. volubilis. 



