460 PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS passiploea 



rarely more, perigynous and inserted with the petals in the throat of the 

 calyx, or hypogynous. Ovary superior, 1-celled. Style simple, or 3-5, with 

 club-shaped or dilated stigmas. Fruit capsular or a berry, often edible. 



The order has about 20 genera with 250 species, but the only hardy 

 representative is described below. 



PASSIFLORA (Passion Flower). — white in the middle, blue at the tips. Fruit 



The characters of this genus are the same egg-shaped, yellow and fragrant when ripe. 



as those of the order above described. The variety Constance Elliott is a beau- 



The popular name is derived from the tiful white-flowered form, quite as hardy 



parts of the flower being supposed to as the type. 



resemble respectively the crown of thorns Culture and Propagation. — The 



(the corona), the five wounds (the 5 Passion Flower is best grown against a 



stamens), and the nails (3 stigmas) of our warm south waU, although in south coast 



Lord's Passion. localities it may be trained over arbours 



P. caerulea. — A beautiful oHmber from and treUises. It likes a rich turfy loam 



Brazil and Peru, with smooth, 5-parted mixed with a little peat and sand. In 



leaves and oblong entire lobes. Flowers spring cuttings of the young shoots about 



from June to October, faintly scented, 6 in. long may be inserted in sandy soil 



scarcely lasting more than a day. Calyx under a, glass. As soon as well rooted 



.segments pale greeuish-white ; petals simi- they may be potted ofi; singly and grown 



laruishape,varying from white to pale blue on for some time in a greenhouse, gradu- 



and rosy -red ; styles purplish ; filaments of ally giving more hght and air to harden 



the corona in two oiroles, purple at the base, the plants off for placing out of doors. 



LI. CUCURBITACEiE— Gourd Order 



The characteristics of this order are rendered more or less familiar by the 

 Cucumber, Marrow, Melon, and Gourd. They are mostly chmbing or prostrate 

 annual herbs, often with a large fleshy perennial rootstock. The leaves 

 are alternate, simple, lobed or divided. The tendrils, when present, are 

 lateral, solitary, simple or branched, and spirally twisted. Flowers moncEci- 

 ous or dicecious, white or yellow, rarely red or blue. Calyx-tube adnate to 

 the ovary ; lobes 5, rarely 3 or 6. Petals 5, rarely 3 or 6, free, or rarely gamo- 

 petalous, often confluent with the calyx. Stamens usually 3 (rarely 5, or 1, 

 2, or 4). Fruit inferior, usually fleshy, often large, variable in form and 

 sometimes highly coloured. 



This order is interesting chiefly on account of the many beautiful, 

 •diversely shaped, and brilliantly coloured fruits — popularly known as Gourds 

 — which it yields, chiefly from Gucurhita Pepo, a native of the Levant. 

 Gourds vary from \ oz. to 200 lbs. in weight, and are round, flask-shaped, 

 ringed, warted, striped, mottled, angled, snake-like &c., with many intermediate 

 and indescribable forms — all so highly curious and interesting that they are 

 well worth a place in the ornamental garden, trained up gnarled tree trunks, 

 over trelhses, or arbours, hanging from hedges &c., the better to show their 

 fruits. 



Culture and Propagation. — Gourds thrive in well-dug and well-manured 

 soil. Seeds are best sown in a cool frame at the end of April. After 

 germination as much light and air as possible should be given to make the 

 plants sturdy, but care must be taken, especially at nights, to protect them 



