NICOTIANA 



NIGHTSHADE OBDEB 



PETUNIA 697 



N. suaveolens (N. wndulata). — An 

 Australian species l-'2 ft. high, with ovate 

 lance-shaped, wavy, nearly stalkless leaves 

 and loose panicles of fragrant white 

 cylincbrical flowers in summer. 



Cidture dc. as above. 



N. Tabacum (N. havanensis). — Com- 

 mon Tobacco. — A bushy American species 

 about 4 ft. high, covered with down and 

 somewhat clammy to the touch. Leaves 

 without stalks, oblong lance-shaped, taper- 

 pointed. Flowers in summer, inflated, 

 rosy, downy outside, in short- many- 

 flowered racemes. There are several 

 varieties of this species differing only in 

 the size of the leaves and the colour of 

 the flowers, but all more or less alike. 



Culture dc. as above. This is a useful 

 and ornamental plant for groups or bor- 

 ders, and especially for masses on lawns, 

 or at the sides of streams, lakes, ponds &o., 

 in warm, sheltered positions where its 

 elegant foHage will not be torn about by 

 strong winds. It may be lifted in autumn 

 into pots and wintered in the greenhouse. 

 Under this treatment the stems become 

 somewhat woody and the plants may last 

 and flower for two or three seasons. In- 

 creased also annually from seeds sown in 

 spring. 



N. tomentosa {N. colossea ; Lehman- 

 nia tomentosa). — A vigorous Peruvian 

 species growing 9-10 ft. high in favour- 

 able seasons, and having huge oval leaves, 

 sometimes larger even than those of 

 Wigamdia macrophylla (p. 670). Its 

 flpwers, which appear during the summer 

 months, or in winter or spring under glass, 

 are comparatively small, but in great 

 numbers in panicles. It is not for the 

 flowers, however, that this species is culti- 

 vated, but for its noble and imposing 

 appearance. It may be grown and in- 

 creased in the same way as N. glauca. 

 There is a beautiful but more tender 

 variety called variegata having the leaves 

 blotched and marbled with creamy white 

 and pale yellow — a graceful plant for beds 

 and borders. 



Culture dc. as for N. glauca. 



N. wigandioides. — A native of Colum- 

 bia with large, hairy, ovate, taper-pointed 

 leaves and large drooping panicles of 

 yellowish -white salver-shaped flowers. 

 This species, on account of its massive 

 foliage, is excellent for giving sub-tropical 

 effects in warm, sheltered spots. 



Culture dc. as above. 



PETUNIA. — A genus containing 

 about 1'2 species of branching, often downy 

 and clammy armuals and perennials with 

 entire and often small leaves. Flowers 

 violet or white, sometimes showy, some- 

 times minute, on solitary stalks. Calyx 

 with five oblong or linear blunt lobes. 

 Corolla funnel- or salver-shaped, with a 

 cylindrical tube and a plaited, 5-lobed 

 spreading limb. Stamens 5, one of which 

 is effete or rudimentary, the 4 others 

 being unequal — 2 long and 2 short (didy- 

 namous). Disc fleshy, entire or sinuately 

 2-lobed. Ovary 2-ceUed. Capsule many- 

 seeded. 



P. nyctaginiflora. — AS. American 

 glandular hairy species about 2 ft. high, 

 emitting a somewhat disagreeable odour, 

 especially at night time and in stormy 

 weather. Leaves ovate-oblong, bluntish, 

 almost or quite stalkless, the upper ones 

 in pairs, heart-shaped. Flowers in August, 

 white or yellow, about 2 in. across, with a 

 slender cylindrical tube about 2a— 3 in. 

 long. 



P. violacea {Niereinhergia phmnicea ; 

 Salpiglossis integrifolia) . — A half-hardy 

 S. American perennial with numerous 

 trailing stems 6-10 in. long, erect and 

 slightly branched near the ends. Leaves 

 ovate lance-shaped, shortly stalked, those 

 near the flowers in pairs. Flowers in 

 August, of a velvety purplish-violet,funnel- 

 bell-shaped, 1 in. or more long, with an 

 inflated tube and a somewhat unequal 

 limb, rather fragrant at night. 



G-ARDBN Petunias 



The two species above described are 

 included here not so much because of 

 their value as garden plants, but rather 

 owing to the fact that they are the 

 parents of the large and beautiful varieties 

 which are now so well-known. P. nycta- 

 gimiflora was introduced in 1823, and 

 P. violacea in 1831, and in 1837 — the year 

 of Her Majesty's accession — the first 

 hybrid between the two produced its 

 flowers, which even then were considered 

 to be a vast improvement on those of the 

 natural species in size, shape, and colour- 

 ing ; and for more than sixty years select- 

 ing and hybridising, crossing and inter- 

 crossing of the choicest varieties have 

 been continuously carried on. The result 

 is that instead of having only single flowers 

 about 2 in. across and simple in colour 

 there are now forms 4-6 in. across, with 



