1770 



TECOMA 



surrounded at the base by a disk: fr. an elongated caji- 

 sule, loculicidally dehiseeiit, with 2 valves sejiaratin;,' 

 from the septum, to which the seeds are attaelied: 

 seeds numerous, compressed, with 2 large, thin winLCs. 

 The genus is dividerl into several natural subgenera, 

 which are cousidc-red by some botanists as distinct 

 genera. Alfred Rehdek. 









J^ 



2474. Tecoma Smithii (X M). 



Trt'mpet Vines in the South. — All the Tecomas, the 

 oliiiibing speciea as well as those throwing; iu bush form, 

 urc very successfully cultivated in Florida, being well 

 aihipted to the soil and climate, Imt most of tliem, to do 

 their best, need to be planted from the start in rich 

 soil, and in addition they should l>o "well fertilized at 

 least once a year. Tliey prefer a fertilizer rich iu nitro- 

 gen, and a heavy niulch will al,so prove very binu.-liriji!. 

 The Inishy kinds can be grown in groups or as single 

 specimens on the lawn, while the rampant climlung 

 species, such as T.radirans and T. a rand i flora, should 

 be grown on posts and tall stumi)s, or they may be 

 trained over small oaks, persimmon trees or catalpas. 

 T. Cnpensis, a half -climbing species, is effectively used 

 for decoration of the veranda, its glowing scarlet flow- 

 ers contrasting well with the exquisite blossoms and 

 the tropical foliagr of tlie allamandas, thunbergias and 

 Clerodendron TJi'nii j>sn}i(i>, which all flower at tlie same 

 time. Ttcoma .staii.'^ and T. grandiHora are the two 

 showiest species of the genus, the latter being a climber, 

 lioweriug abundantly iu May and June, while the first 

 one is a large-growing bushy species opening its im- 

 mense corymbs of vivid yellow flowers the latter part of 

 November and earlv in December. 



The Yellow Eld.T, T. shm.'^, grows exceedingly well 

 on high pine-land and is perfectly at InnvH- in Florida. 

 attaining an immense size if well fertilized and niulrhed, 

 dense masses 18-i."i ft. high and as much through l)eing 

 not at all rare. This Tecoma is tlie glory of the south 

 Florida gardens in autumn, as is the beautiful Ban- 

 Jiinia pii.rpurea in April, never failing to call forth en- 

 thusiastic admiration from all beholders. No shrnli is 

 better adapted for tlie new settlers in the sandy ]nne- 



TECOMA 



hind gardens. When covered with it.s large, fragrant 

 flowers it is visited by numberless hummingbinls and 

 insects. Owing to its rapid growth and dense foliage 

 from the ground, the Yellow Elder is highly valued as 

 screen for unsightly fences and buildings. This Tecoiuu 

 ripens its seed so alnindantly that liundreds of seedlings 

 come up around the old plant. The value of this sbruh, 

 blooming so late in autumn, cannot be overestimated. 



T. iiioUis, incorrectly known to the trade as T. sfmi.^, 

 var. vrhifina, also does well, but being a native of 

 Guatemala it is nuicli less hardy than the former. The 

 growth is more upright and stiff, the Ifts. are much 

 larger, less serrate aiul much darker green and the 

 flowers, wdiich are borne iu terminal panicles, are 

 smaller and without fragrance and the color is a nmcii 

 lighter yellow. It also fiowers several weeks earlier 

 than T. starts. The foliage looks crimped and often 

 blackish, Iieing attacked by a kind of aphis and by 

 several fungi. 



7'. Snilfhii is said to be a hybrid between T. moUis 

 and T. i't/peu.-^-is, raised near Melbourne, Australia, l.iy 

 Mr. Edwin Smith. The plant comes true from seed, and 

 sy(-dlings flower wlien about a year old, hegiuriirig to 

 open their large clusters of yellow and reddish trumpeis 

 in April and continuing with short intervals until cut 

 down liy frost in December. 



The C'ape Honeysuckle, T. C'ipen.-iiis, is another spe- 

 cies which grows most luxuriantly iu Florida gardens 

 and in those all along the Gulf coast, it is usually 

 grown on trellises on verandas and luazzas with a souLb- 

 eru exposure. Of all the species this is the best and 

 most suital>le for %''erandas, being a dense and compact 

 grower, evei-grenn. almost constantly iu flower, easily 

 kept in health and readily trained into shapely speci- 

 mens. If the long shoots are cut back severely, the 

 plant can be easily trained into shrub form. These long 

 shoots, usually lying flat on the ground, readily strike 

 root and form an excellent material for propagation. 

 T. Capensis and T. Sm-ifhii are the only Tecoma.s 

 which grow and flower fairly well as pot-plants in 

 northern greenhouses. They need good soil and rather 

 large pots to do well. If not well cared for they lose 

 most of their foliage and look poor and unshapely. 



The Chinese Trumpet Creeper, T. gmndiflora, is the 

 most floriferous and gorgeous of all the climldng spe- 

 cies. In the writer's garden a large pine stump, about 

 sixteen feet high, in May and June is completely covered 

 with masses of brilliant fl.ery orange-scarlet flowers 

 which can be seen at a distance of half a mile. The 

 flowers are much larger, more brilliant and much more 

 abundantly produced than those of our native T. rad'i- 

 c<nis. While all the other Teconias are almost free from 

 the attacks of insects, this one is infested by a vora- 

 cious caterpillar, which devours the leaves greedily. 

 The luliber grasshoppers also attack the lower foliage. 

 T. i.iraiidifJnr'1 grows well in the poor sandy soil, per- 

 fe«-ting luxuriant shoots 25-30 ft. long in one season if 

 well fertilized. Like our native species, this one is de- 

 ciiliious. 



Our native Trumpet Creeper, T. radicals, is very 

 common in the southern woodlands and fields. There is 

 a great variety in the brilliancy of the blossoms. This 

 is an excellent plant for covering the bare trunks of 

 palmettos. 



The Wonga-Wouga Vine, T. aus/n/Ii^, is rather difti- 

 cult to grow^ on high pine-land, as it needs a soil rich 

 iu humus. In rich soil, however, and liberally fertilized 

 it is a rampant grower with beautiful dark green glossy 

 folinge. The flowers are interesting but comparatively 

 small, and not showy. However, the species is worth 

 cultivating for foliage alone. It must be well taken 

 care of and well watered during the dry spring months 

 or it will dwindle away in a verv short time. 



The Bower Plant of Austra'lia, T. jasnnnoldes, is 

 a tall, r.-impant clinilior, reviding in the Florida sun- 

 shine, but it needs a verv ri(di soil and during dry 

 weather an abundance of water. A heavy mulching 

 also proves verv beneficial. Plants only two feet high 

 have flowered profuselv. In good soil it grows in one 

 season 20-;"!0 ft. high, clambering from tree to tree. 



T. Jfaekniii, from Natal and CafTraria, demands a 

 very rich soil and a heavy mulch of stable manure. Its 

 leaves easily drop from the woody branches after a 



