186 A GUIDE TO FLORICULTURE. 



MONKEY FLOWER. 



(MIMULUS.) 



This interesting variety of flowers is principally from 

 Chili and California. It is an annual of easy culture, 

 stem smooth, leaves denticulate, slightly hairy, with smooth 

 ribs ; calyx smooth ; teeth equal, sharp pointed, turning 

 backwards ; corolla twice the length of the calyx ; stamens 

 shorter than the corolla ; peduncles twice as long as the 

 calyx. The beauty of this flower has induced the florist 

 to exert his skill in hybridizing it with decided success. 

 The one called M. Smithii, is one of the finest in cultiva- 

 tion, being a cross with M. revularis and M. variegatus. 

 Mr. Smith, of Islington, has met with much success with 

 this tribe of plants. The one named after him is distinctly 

 marked with spots on the petals, and laced round the ex- 

 tremity ; the lower lip of the flower has three dark marks, 

 and the yellow is of a deep and rich color. Besides these 

 perfections, the variety is an extremely abundant bloomer, 

 which still adds to its worth. 



' The seed should be sown in the fall, in pots, and pre- 

 served through the winter, when it will flower early in the 

 spring. The soil must be a rich loam. It will do well 

 in open ground, but shows to better advantage in a pot, as 

 a parlor plant, or in the green house. It is also increased 

 by dividing the roots, or by cuttings taken ofT in the spring 

 and summer. 



