56 RHODODENDRONS AND OTHERS 



The frost has put an end, for the nonce, to the flower- 

 ing of the brilliant Brazilian shrub which we used to 

 know as Abutilon vexillarium, that is, the standard- 

 bearer, a name so appropriately distinctive of its gleam- 

 ing scarlet and yellow bells ; but which we are now 

 bidden to speak of as A. megapotamicum, because it 

 grows on the banks of the Rio Grande. Of all shrubs 

 known to me this is, I think, the most persistent 

 flowerer. It is more tender than the Chilean A. viti- 

 folium, requiring the comfort of a wall to recline on 

 even in the mildest parts of these islands ; but let that 

 wall face full south, and only severe frost will suffice to 

 quench the fiery tassels which hang from every spray. 

 I have never known it set seed in this country, which 

 no doubt accounts partly for the prolonged flowering 

 season. I saw it first in Mr. Gerald Loder's garden at 

 Wakehurst Place, Sussex, a notable store-house of good 

 things, and retain a lively sense of gratitude for the 

 cuttings he bestowed on me. Despite its reputation 

 for tenderness, it has remained unhurt after the mer- 

 cury had fallen to 9 Fahr. It is one of many American 

 plants which bear scarlet flowers, a colour confined 

 in the British flora to the corn poppy and the field 

 pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis), both weeds of cultiva- 

 tion, probably imported from sunnier climes. Our 

 sunshine seems to be too intermittent and watery to 

 light up fiery hues. We have plenty of good pink 

 wild flowers and some proper crimson ones, but the 

 tendency of the deeper shades is towards magenta. 

 Fancy if our foxgloves blazed out in the livery of 

 Desfontainca or our dingy wild sage lit up the flames 



