CHAP. V. ORNAMENTAL TREES, SHRUBS, ETC. 543 



may, however, by training and close pruning, be made to blossom 

 beautifully of a small size ; bears very large, pale-blue, widely- 

 expanded flowers at all seasons, but principally in the Cold 

 weather. 



3. T. laurifolia. A large climbing shrub, native of Burmah ; 

 bears flowers hardly to be recognised from those of the preceding, 

 but quite different foliage, the leaves being of a long, lanceolate, 

 tapering form, nine inches long ; when trained over a wall or 

 trellis the profusion of large flowers, two-and-a-half inches 

 across, of the palest lavender colour, which it bears, makes it a 

 truly delightful object during the Cold season. Yields seed 

 abundantly. 



Meyenia. 



1. M. Hawtayneana. A neat, pretty, climbing plant, with 

 slender thread-like stems, and very rigid heart-shaped leaves, 

 an inch and a half long; bears, at nearly all seasons, large 

 azure-blue flowers, with a white tube ; a native of the Nilgher- 

 ries, and rather delicate in the plains, where it is very apt to die 

 off; succeeds better in the open ground than in a pot, and 

 should be planted in a shady spot ; seeds abundantly in the Cold 

 weather. 



There is likewise a white variety. 



2. M. erecta. A dwarf woody shrub two or three feet high, 

 with smooth, myrtle-like, oval leaves, the stems and young 

 shoots of a deep purple colour ; bears, principally in the Cold 

 season, large, beautiful, gloxinia-like, azure-blue flowers, with 

 pale-yellow tube. This charming plant, introduced from Kew 

 in 1859, thrives here so well, and is so easily propagated, that it 

 has now become one of the commonest ornaments of the Cal- 

 cutta gardens. There is a variety with white flowers, but the 

 blue is much the handsomer. Propagated by cuttings in the 

 Bains ; produces abundance of seed in the Cold season. 



Hexacentris. 



H. coccinea. An extensively-climbing shrub; ornamental if 

 kept within bound ; has curious parallel-nerved, narrow, heart- 

 shaped leaves, about four inches long; bears moderate-sized 

 flowers of singular form and of yellow and dull^orange-red colour 

 in the Cold season. 



