270 



FLORA DOMESTICA. 



purple, or rather a purple-red. It is very common in all 

 the islands of the West Indies, where it is called Four- 

 o'clock-flower, from the flowers opening at that time of the 

 day. 



The Sweet-scented Marvel of Peru has white flowers ; 

 which, as in the other two kinds, close during the day, 

 and expand when the sun declines, like the Indian Night- 

 flower, which its countrymen have named Sephalica, be- 

 cause they believe the bees sleep upon its blossoms. 



The Sweet-scented species is not, however, agreeable to 

 every one, since its scent is of musk, which many persons 

 dislike. It is a native of Mexico, and flowers from June to 

 September. . 



The Clammy Marvel of Peru has violet-coloured flowers, 

 which blow from August to December. 



These plants should be raised in a hot-bed ; but if the 

 roots are taken up when they have done flowering, laid in 

 dry sand all the winter, secure from frost, and planted 

 again in the spring, they will flower very well. Towards 

 the end of May they may be set abroad. The first and 

 third kinds are the most hardy. The earth must be but 

 just kept moist. 



If placed in a warm situation, they may be raised with- 

 out a hot-bed, but will not flower till late in the season. 

 The seeds should be sown in April, separately, in eight- 

 inch pots : when the roots are planted the second year, the 

 pot should be rather larger. 



Rousseau, in speaking of the name of this plant, says 

 " Upon the first discovery of the New World, as America 

 was boastingly called, every thing found there was repre- 

 sented as wonderful. Strange stories were related of the 

 plants and animals they met with, and those which wel-e 

 sent to Europe had pompous names given them. One of 



