THE TASSION-FLOWER TRIBE. Ill 



were usually crossed, and one nail driven through 

 both, so that the four wounds of the hands and 

 feet might be made by three nails. The children 

 were talking thus in a low voice, on the solemn 

 subject of our Lord's crucifixion, when their father 

 told them that the idea of connecting the passion- 

 flower with that awful event was adopted by some 

 zealous Roman Catholics, when they first saw 

 these splendid plants blossoming in their native 

 woods, and climbing about from tree to tree in 

 wild magnificence. 



"And where are their native woods?" asked 

 Henry. 



"Chiefly in South America and the West 

 Indies, where the fruit of some species is eaten, 

 and where infusions of the flowers are used as a 

 remedy for coughs, and a poultice of the leaves is 

 used to subdue erysipelas and other eruptions on 

 the skin. It would not be safe, however, to em- 

 ploy the passion-flower for such purposes in this 

 country, as the tribe possesses active and danger- 

 ous qualities." 



" At this part of the vegetable kingdom we must 

 pass over several tribes of plants, natives of hot 

 countries, only mentioning a familiar species, 



