206 Passtfloree—Passiflora. 
and indehiscent, and usually stipitate. About 250 species and 
20 genera are comprised in this order. They are usually very 
showy, but unfortunately nearly all are natives of the tropics. 
1. PASSIFLORA. 
Distinguished from the neighbouring genera by the short 
calyx-tube and the three often recurved styles. Passion-flower 
is simply a translation of the technical name, which was given 
on account of a fancied resemblance in the parts of the flower 
to the instruments of Christ’s suffering. 
1. P. ceerislea (fig. 112).—The ouly hardy species, and even 
this requires the protection of a wall and covering in very 
severe weather. The petals vary in colour from white to pale 
blue and rosy-red, and the fringed corona and centre of the 
flower is differently coloured in different varieties. It frequently 
ripens its fruit in this country. This is about the size and 
shape of a small hen’s egy, changing from green to orange, and 
ultimately scarlet. The flowers are produced very freely, espe- 
cially in the neighbourhood of the sea. It is a native of Brazil. 
Orpen L._CUCURBITACEA. 
Scandent or prostrate herbs, annual, or often with a large 
fleshy perennial rhizome, rarely shrubby. Leaves alternate, 
simple, lobed, or palmately or pedately partite. Tendrils (when 
present) lateral, solitary, simple or branched. Flowers monw- 
ciuus or dicecious, white or yellow, rarely blue or red. Petals 
variable, often confluent with the calyx, Stamens commonly 8 ; 
anthers extrorse, often sinuate. Fruit inferior, usually fleshy, 
often large, very variable in form, sometimes brilliantly 
coloured ; seeds variable, destitute of albumen. The plants 
belonging to this order are mainly from tropical regions, espe- 
cially the more ornamental ones. Of the 500 species known, 
a few are notable for their ornamental fruits, and some, like 
the Melon and Cucumber, are valuable for food. We have one 
native species, the Red Bryony, Bryonice dioica. Tt has annual 
climbing stems, which are produced from a large tuberous root 
or rhizome. Its elegantly lobed leaves and red berries are 
familiar in the south. Cuedrbita Pepo fumishes some of the 
handsomest of the annual ornamental gourds. In the form and 
colour of the fruit it is one of the most variable plants in culti- 
