1776 



TECOMA 



TECOMA 



surrounded at the base by a disk: fr. an elongated cap- 

 sule, loculicidally dehiscent, with 2 valves separating 

 from the septum, to which the seeds are attached : 

 seeds numerous, compressed, with 2 large, thin wings. 

 The genus is divided into several natural subgenera, 

 which are considered by some botanists as distinct 

 genera. ALFRED REHDER. 



TRUMPET VINES IN THE SOUTH. All the Tecomas, the 

 climbing species as well as those growing in bush form, 

 are very successfully cultivated in Florida, being well 

 adapted to the soil and climate, but most of them, to do 

 their best, need to be planted from the start in rich 

 soil, and in addition they should be well fertilized at 

 least once a year. They prefer a fertilizer rich in nitro- 

 gen, and a heavy mulch will also prove very beneficial. 

 The bushy kinds can be grown in groups or as single 

 specimens on the lawn, while the rampant climbing 

 species, such as T.radicans and T. grandiflora, should 

 be grown on posts and tall stumps, or they may be 

 trained over small oaks, persimmon trees or catalpas. 

 T. Capensis, a half -climbing species, is effectively used 

 for decoration of the veranda, its glowing scarlet flow- 

 ers contrasting well with the exquisite blossoms and 

 the tropical foliage of the allamandas, thunbergias and 

 Clerodendron Thomp nonce, which all flower at the same 

 time. Tecoma stans and T. grandiflora are the two 

 showiest species of the genus, the latter being a climber, 

 flowering abundantly in May and June, while the first 

 one is a large-growing bushy species opening its im- 

 mense corymbs of vivid yellow flowers the latter part of 

 November and early in December. 



The Yellow Elder, T. stans, grows exceedingly well 

 on high pine-land and is perfectly at home in Florida, 

 attaining an immense size if well fertilized and mulched, 

 dense masses 18-2,") ft. high and as much through being 

 not at all rare. This Tecoma is the glory of the south 

 Florida gardens in autumn, as is the beautiful Bau- 

 hinia purpurea in April, never failing to call forth en- 

 thusiastic admiration from all beholders. No shrub is 

 better adapted for the new settlers in the sandy pine- 



land gardens. When covered with its large, fragrant 

 flowers it is visited by numberless hummingbirds and 

 insects. Owing to its rapid growth and dense foliage 

 from the ground, the Yellow Elder is highly valued as 

 screen for unsightly fences and buildings. This Tecoma 

 ripens its seed so abundantly that hundreds of seedlings 

 come up around the old plant. The value of this shrub, 

 blooming so late in autumn, cannot be overestimated. 



T. mollis, incorrectly known to the trade as T. stans, 

 var. velutina, also does well, but being a native of 

 Guatemala it is much less hardy than the former. The 

 growth is more upright and stiff, the Ifts. are much 

 larger, less serrate and much darker green and the 

 flowers, which are borne in terminal panicles, are 

 smaller and without fragrance and the color is a much 

 lighter yellow. It also flowers several weeks earlier 

 than T. stans. The foliage looks crimped and often 

 blackish, being attacked by a kind of aphis and by 

 several fungi. 



T. Smithii is said to be a hybrid between T. mollis 

 and T. Capensis, raised near Melbourne, Australia, by 

 Mr. Edwin Smith. The plant comes true from seed, and 

 seedlings flower when about a year old, beginning to 

 open their large clusters of yellow and reddish trumpets 

 in April and continuing with short intervals until cut 

 down by frost in December. 



The Cape Honeysuckle, T. Capensis, is another spe- 

 cies which grows most luxuriantly in Florida gardens 

 and in those all along the Gulf coast. It is usually 

 grown on trellises on verandas and piazzas with a south- 

 ern exposure. Of all the species this is the best and 

 most suitable for verandas, being a dense and compact 

 grower, evergreen, almost constantly in flower, easily 

 kept in health and readily trained into shapely speci- 

 mens. If the long shoots are cut back severely, the 

 plant can be easily trained into shrub form. These long 

 shoots, usually lying flat on the ground, readily strike 

 root and form an excellent material for propagation. 

 T. Capensis and T. Smithii are the only Tecomas 

 which grow and flower fairly well as pot-plants in 

 northern greenhouses. They need good soil and rather 

 large pots to do well. If not well cared for they lose 

 most of their foliage and look poor and unshapely. 



The Chinese Trumpet Creeper, T. grandiflora, is the 

 most floriferous and gorgeous of all the climbing spe- 

 cies. In the writer's garden a large pine stump, about 

 sixteen feet high, in May and June is completely covered 

 with masses of brilliant fiery orange-scarlet flowers 

 which can be seen at a distance of half a mile. The 

 flowers are much larger, more brilliant and much more 

 abundantly produced than those of our native T. radi- 

 cans. While all the other Tecomas are almost free from 

 the attacks of insects, this one is infested by a vora- 

 cious caterpillar, which devours the leaves greedily. 

 The lubber grasshoppers also attack the lower foliage. 

 T. grandiflora grows well in the poor sandy soil, per- 

 fecting luxuriant shoots 25-30 ft. long in one season if 

 well fertilized. Like our native species, this one is de- 

 ciduous. 



Our native Trumpet Creeper, T. radicans, is very 

 common in the southern woodlands and fields. There is 

 a great variety in the brilliancy of the blossoms. This 

 is an excellent plant for covering the bare trunks of 

 palmettos. 



The Wonga-Wonga Vine, T. australis, is rather diffi- 

 cult to grow on high pine-land, as it needs a soil rich 

 in humus. In rich soil, however, and liberally fertilized 

 it is a rampant grower with beautiful dark green glossy 

 foliage. The flowers are interesting but comparatively 

 small, and not showy. However, the species is worth 

 cultivating for foliage alone. It must be well taken 

 care of and well watered during the dry spring months 

 or it will dwindle away in a very short time. 



The Bower Plant of Australia, T. jasminoides, is 

 a tall, rampant climber, reveling in the Florida sun- 

 shine, but it needs a very rich soil and during dry 

 weather an abundance of water. A heavy mulching 

 also proves very beneficial. Plants only two feet high 

 have flowered profusely. In good soil it grows in one 

 season 20-30 ft. high, clambering from tree to tree. 



T. Mackenii, from Natal and Caffraria, demands a 

 very rich soil and a heavy mulch of stable manure. Its 

 leaves easily drop from the woody branches after a 



