JUNE. 117 



And now the pretty minor convolvulus ( Con- 

 volvolus tricolor) is beginning to blow, and its 

 large cups of deep azure will soon cover the 

 branches. This species grows wild in southern 

 Europe, and the blossoms have usually rays 

 of white. Sometimes they are pure white or 

 blue, rayed with yellow in the centre. This 

 flower is not very similar to the climbing plant, 

 called by gardeners the major convolvulus, 

 (Ipomcea purpurea.) This, in its different vari- 

 eties, of purple, white, pink, or lilac, is a beau- 

 tiful American plant. In its native woods it is 

 very luxuriant, twining so among the branches 

 of the trees, and so mingling itself with its 

 neighbour plants, that the Americans term one 

 species of the flower " busy body." "With us 

 it will sometimes climb ten feet high, but in 

 Jamaica its bells hang from the loftiest trees of 

 the forests. All the species are ornamental. 

 That known by the name of indigo convolvulus 

 (Ipomcea nil.) is of the clearest blue tint. The 

 Italians term it campana aziirea, and as, unlike 

 the others of the convolulus tribe, it opens at 

 night, it has also the name in Italy, of Jior cli 

 notte. 



Many species of the ipomtea are to be found 

 in our hot-houses, and comparatively few can 

 bear the winter in the garden. 



Our wild species of convolvulus are among 

 the most graceful plants of the hedges, and so 

 also are other species in the hedgerows of Italy, 

 as well as in tropical lauds. A beautiful 

 climber of this tribe, (Quamoclit anfjulata,) 



