STOVE, OR TROPICAL HOUSE VINES 155 
Because of the peculiar formation and extraor- 
dinary colouring of their flowers, the birthworts 
(Aristolochia) are considered as among our best 
greenhouse vines. This family includes the peli- 
can-flower (Aristolochia grandiflora) so named 
on account of the flower resembling in formation 
the neck and bill of an immense bird. The 
colours of the pelican-flower are gorgeous, the 
blossom being white, blotched, and veined with 
purple; but, sad to state, the flower has the 
offensive odour characteristic of the entire family, 
and which prevents its many members from be- 
coming really popular. A larger-flowered variety 
of this species (var. Sturtevanti1) is more often seen; 
the flowers are a foot or more across, splashed 
and veined with rich, velvety crimson, and the 
tail of the flower is fully three feet in length. 
The variety Hookeri is devoid of the obnoxious 
odour of the family, but does not grow so tall 
as the other two, about fifteen feet being the 
maximum height, whereas the others may reach 
twice that height. 
The largest-flowered of all vines is the herba- 
ceous birthwort (4. Goldieana). The enormous 
blooms, sometimes twenty-six to twenty-eight 
inches long and twelve inches across, are of a 
deep yellow with chocolate markings. The plant 
