344 Passion-Flowers. 



PASSION-FLOWERS. 



There are few plants of our greenhouses more generally attractive than 

 the passion-flowers. They are mostly natives of Tropical America, though 

 a few are found in Asia. Closely allied, and differing only very slightly, 

 botanically, are the Tacsonias, a small genus, comprising only a few South- 

 American species, which are popularly called passion-flowers, possessing 

 the same general formation, but of even more ornamental character. As 

 an English writer has stated, the name was fancifully applied from the re- 

 semblance afforded by the parts of the plant to the instruments of our 

 Lord's passion and its attendant circumstances : thus the three nails, two 

 for the hands, one for the feet, are represented by the stigmas ; the five 

 anthers indicate the five wounds ; the rays of glory, or, as some say, the 

 crown of thorns, are represented by the rays of the corona ; the ten parts 

 of the perianth represent the apostles, two of them absent, — Peter who 

 denied, and Judas who betrayed, our Lord ; and the wicked hands of his 

 persecutors are seen in the digitate leaves of the plant and the scourges 

 in the tendrils. 



There are many species cultivated, not only for the beauty of the flowers, 

 but in some cases for the fruit, which, in many species, is edible. 



Most of the family are of a climbing nature, and cling by tendrils ; but 

 there are a few of erect habit, without tendrils. 



There are more than fifty species, and some hybrid varieties, all of which 

 are ornamental, although differing much in size, color, and profusion of 

 bloom. The foliage is generally- ornamental, of clear green ; whence the 

 plants are in demand for training up to rafters of the greenhouse, — a situa- 

 tion in which they grow rampantly, often niaking so dense a shade as to 

 require the free use of the knife. 



The blooming season is usually summer and autumn ; though most of 

 the species may be had in bloom at any season by the application of heat. 



Propagation is readily effected by cuttings of the young wood during 

 summer, which root easily under a bell-glass in sand. The proper soil is 

 peat and loam, and the plants thrive best when planted out in the border 

 of the house. In pots they do not generally succeed, as they are of too 

 rank a growth, and do not bear confinement of the roots. 



