IPOM^A 



BINDWEED OBDEB 



IPOMiEA 683 



free or scarcely united at the base, much imbricated. Corolla gamopetalous, 

 hypogynous, funnel-shaped, tubular, salver- or beU-shaped, rarely almost 

 rotate, 5-lobed or nearly entire, plaited, convolute or twisted in bud. Stamens 

 5, inserted in the base of the corolla tube, and alternate with its segments ; 

 filaments often dilated at the base. Ovary superior. Style 1, usually divided 

 at the top. Capsule 1-4-celled, few-seeded. 



This order contains over 30 genera and about 800 species distributed all 

 over the world, but more plentiful in tropical countries. 



IT'OMJEK (Morning Glohy).— -A 

 large genus containing about 300 or 400 

 species, only a few of which can be 

 grown in the open air in the British 

 Islands. They are mostly climbing or 

 creeping herbs, rarely shrubs, more or 

 less covered with a soft down. Leaves 

 alternate, entire, lobed, or pedately or 

 palmately, rarely pinnately dissected. 

 Sepals broad or narrow, equal or unequal, 

 the inner ones rarely as large as or 

 larger than the outer ones. Corolla 

 salver-shaped, fuimel- or bell-shaped; limb 

 5-folded or plaited. Stamens 5, enclosed 

 or protruding. Disc annular, entire or 

 sinuate, rarely none. Capsule globose 

 or rarely ovoid, membranous leathery or 

 fleshy, containing 4-6 or fewer seeds. 



Culture and Propagation. — Ipomseas 

 for the flower garden must be treated as 

 tender annuals in the British Islands. 

 Owing to their rapid growth and grace- 

 fully twining habit they make excellent 

 coverings for trellises, arbours, porches, 

 walls, windows, balconies &c., during the 

 warmest months of the year. They may 

 be raised from seed sown in heat about 

 February or March, the seedlings being 

 gradually hardened off in cool airy places 

 till about June, when they may be planted 

 out. Two or three seeds are often sown 

 in small pots, and when the seedlings 

 have grown to a fair size they are shifted 

 bodily into pots of a larger size, with 

 short temporary stakes to uphold the 

 weak stems until they are finally planted 

 out. They like a rich loamy soil, with 

 weU-rotted manure or leaf-mould, and 

 plenty of water during growth. "Where 

 there is no convenience for raising the 

 plants in heat, the seeds may be sown in 

 April in the open border, in fine rich soil 

 with a little hot manure beneath the soU. 

 A temporary shelter may be made with 

 three bricks placed triangular-wise, and 

 over them a sheet of glass; or a small 

 box wUl do equally well until the seeds 

 have sprouted. Careful watering should 



be given, and in mild seasons the plants 

 wUl grow vigorously and flower freely. 



The best kinds for outdoor cultivation 

 are the following : — 



I. hederacea (J. Nil ; PJiarbitis 

 hederacea). — A beautiful tropical Ameri- 

 can climbing annual about 10 ft. high, 

 with heart - shaped, 3 - lobed Ivy - like 

 leaves. Flowers from July to September, 

 light blue, whitish at the base, solitary, 

 with a very hairy calyx. There are 

 several varieties of this species, among 

 them being gramdiflora, light blue ; 

 superha, light blue, edged with white ; 

 atroviolacea, deep violet and white, and 

 others varying slightly in colour. There 

 are forms with variegated leaves, blotched 

 as if sprinkled with whitewash. The 

 variety Kmbata or {Pharbitis Umbata), 

 a native of Australia, has flowers about 

 2^ in. across, and almost as deep, with a 

 pale rose-purple tube, and a deep violet- 

 purple limb edged with white. 



Culture dc, as above. 



I. pandurata {Convolvulus pandu- 

 ratus ; C. camdicans). — An old but 

 practically almost unknown hardy peren- 

 nial climber, native of the United States, 

 with heart-shaped tapering leaves, rather 

 downy beneath. Flowers in summer, 

 large, white with a purple throat, many 

 on a stalk. Seeds can probably be 

 obtained from American nurserymen. 



Culture dc. as above. 



I. purpurea {Convol/uulus major; C. 

 purpv/reus ; Pharbitis hispida). — This 

 charming annual from tropical America 

 is nearly always offered in trade 

 catalogues as Convolvulus major, and 

 under this name it is best known in 

 gardens. Its stems climb 10 or 12 ft., 

 bearing heart-shaped, undivided leaves, 

 and from June to September dark purple 

 flowers, with hairy sepaJs, many on a 

 stalk. There are numerous colour varie- 

 ties, such as atropv/rpurea, deep purple ; 

 Burridgei, scarlet ; Dichsoni, deep blue ; 



