THE TRUMPET-FLOWER TRIBE. iSj 



seen lancing themselves into the water, and unrolling 

 in all directions, and the whole field of the micro- 

 scope will, on a sudden, present a spectacle of action, 

 life, and movement. This is owing to the expansion 

 of a vast quantity of spiral threads, which, Avhen dry, 

 are contracted and glued to the surface of the seed, 

 but which are suddenly set at liberty upon the appli- 

 cation of water. 



Another set of plants, that I must bring you 

 acquainted with, is the Trumpet-flower Tribe. 

 You have long since studied the Foxglove Tribe, and 

 you remember that it consists of herbs, with an erect 

 habit, and little angular or round seeds, the embryo of 

 which is surrounded by albumen. Very nearly akin 

 to these are certain exotic plants, most of which are 

 trees or shrubs, \^dth flowers like those of the Fox- 

 gloves in all respects, only that they are usually larger, 

 in most instances with a twining or climbing mode of 

 growth, and with large flat pods, some of which are 

 as much as two or three feet long, filled with flat 

 thin-winged seeds, containing an embryo without 

 albumen. 



The common genus of these plants is named Big- 

 nonia, or the Trumpet-flower^ whence the Tribe has 

 gained its usual designation. All that belong to it are 

 climbing plants, as is indeed every species common 

 in gardens, except the noble Catalpa (Catalpa syringi- 

 folia), which forms a tree as large as an apple tree, 

 and almost as hardy, its boughs loaded in summer 

 with heaps of magnificent white and lilac flowers. 



