KIGHTSHADE FAMILY 



Tube. — Several times longer than calyx, gradually swelling to the 

 throat, pubescent. 



Stamens. — Five inserted on corolla-tube; filaments slender, bearing 

 the anthers at the throat. 



Ovary. — Many-ovuled. 



Petunia violacece, native to Argentina, smaller than Pettmia nyctagini- 

 fiora, of neater habit; has been lost to cultivation and appears only in 

 its hybrids. 



Stem. — Slender decumbent, viscid-pubescent. 



Leaves. — Oval or ovate, sessile or petioled. 



Flowers. — Salver-formed, violet-purple or rose-red border, five-lobed; 

 tube short, broad, and somewhat swollen. 



Our garden Petunia has a most interesting history, which is 

 admirably given by Prof. L. H. Bailey in his "Survival of the 

 Unlike." He writes: "The modern Petunia is a strange com- 

 pound of the two original species which were introduced to culti- 

 vation less than three-quarters of a century ago. The first Petunia 

 to be discovered was found by Commerson on the shores of the 

 La Plata in South America, and from the dried specimens which 

 he sent home the French botanist, Jussieu, constructed the genus 

 Petunia and named the plant Petunia nyctaginiflora in allusion 

 to the Four-o'clock-like flowers. 



" This plant appears to have been introduced into cultivation in 

 1823. It is a plant of upright habit, thick, sticky leaves and sticky 

 stems, and very long-tubed white flowers which exhale a strong 

 perfume at nightfall. This plant nearly or even wholly pure is 

 not infrequent in old gardens, and fair strains of it can be had 

 in the market. 



" This old-fashioned Petunia is a coarse plant and is now but 

 little known. 



."The second species of Petunia first flowered in the Glasgow 

 Botanical Garden in July, 1831, from seeds sent the fall before 

 from Buenos Ayres by Mr. Tweedie, and in 183 1 an excellent 

 colored plate of it appearedin the Botanical Magazine, under the 

 name Salpigldssis integrifdlia. This is a more compact plant 



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