METEORIC FLOWERS. 273 



being of a similar nature to those of Orchids. 

 Our illustration of a Ceropegia (page 192) exhibits 

 the vase-like shape which those flowers assume, 

 whilst others are much more simple, and scarcely 

 conspicuou s. 



The " hand plant " of Mexico {Clieirostemon 

 platanoides) has acquired its designation from the 

 stamens being extended like the five fingers of a 

 hand, from a large calyx, like a leather cup, true 

 petals being absent. The flowers secrete a quantity 

 of liquid like sugar and water, tasting and smelling 

 like toast and water. Each flower continues about a 

 fortnight in perfection before it begins to fade. It 

 was narrated of this flower, when first found in 1787, 

 that it was so great an object of curiosity with all 

 the inhabitants of New Spain, that the flowers were 

 gathered with avidity by the Indians, even before 

 their full expansion, and thus the seeds were not 

 allowed to ripen. The tree was venerated from time 

 immemorial by the Indians, who believed it to be 

 a solitary tree, of which no other existed or could 

 exist in the world. Nevertheless other trees were 

 discovered in Guatemala in 1801. 1 



Side-saddle flowers (Sarracenia) are surmounted by 

 a kind of hood, not unlike a parasol, with the petals 

 hanging out, all round the margin, like little saddle- 



1 " Botanical Magazine," plate 5,135. 



