CLIMBING PLANTS. 



287 



markings like a calico print. One day, when the plant was in 

 blossom, I led some of my visitors to suppose that the flower might 

 be artificial, and I assured others of its reality. I afterwards found 

 both parties carefully examining the plant, and neither could decide 

 whether the flower was a real one or a mere sham made for the 

 purpose of practising a joke upon them. 



We have never succeeded well with the Clianthus Dampicri (fig. 594), 

 which evidently requires very special treat- 

 ment, and appears to be impatient of a damp 

 atmosphere. The colour of its flowers is 

 magnificent. 



It is impossible to dispense with Passion- 

 flowers. Perhaps one of the most useful 

 species is the Passiflora Kennesina (fig. 595), 

 which flowers all the year 

 round. The young wood, 

 which is slender, hangs 

 down with a flower or 

 flower-bud growing from 

 the axil of every leaf. 

 Next to it in beauty, 



and perhaps even more FIG. 534. Clianthus. FIG. 535 Pussifbra Kermcsina. 



brilliant in colour, is the P. princeps. Racemes of scarlet flowers 

 hang down over green ferns, and set off a fernery by affording 

 the complementary colour to the green which is so essential to a 

 perfect effect. The P. ccelcstina is fine. I grow also P. Bdlotti, 

 P. macrocarpa, P. quadrangular is t and the small but interesting 

 bat's-wing leaf white flowering species, but this latter is always 

 distasteful to gardeners because it is not sufficiently showy. The 

 best Passifloras to grow are P. Kermcsina, P. princeps, P. ccelcstina, 

 and P. quadrangular is. The P. ccerulea has been frequently tried out 

 of doors, and as frequently has died in winter. On the high ground 

 near Croydon it grows well, and becomes covered with its beautiful 

 golden fruit ; but even there it will not stand the cold in our severe 



