PASSION-FLOWER. 103 



The thorny crown the heavenly brows around, 



The scourging thorns, the galling cords that bound, 



And nails that pierced with agonizing wound ; 



Sudden she lifts to heaven her ardent eye 



In silent gaze and solemn ecstacy ; 



Then, fill'd with timid hope and holy fear, 



Drops on the flower a consecrated tear." Shaw. 



Linnaeus changed the name of this genus 

 of plants from Flos Passionis, by combining 

 the words, into the technical name of Passi- 

 Jlora. This great botanist also ranged the 

 plant in the natural order of Cucurbilacece, 

 because the fruit has a nearer resemblance to 

 the gourd family than that of any other fruit ; 

 but M. Jussieu has arranged it under a distinct 

 order, since we have had so many species of 

 this plant introduced into Europe. 



The flesh-coloured passion-flower, Passiflora 

 incarnata was the first variety known in Eu- 

 rope ; but this is just too tender to endure 

 the open air of our country, though it is 

 sometimes planted in the greenhouse for the 

 sake of its fruit, which is of an egg shape, 

 but more globular, varying in size from that 

 of the pigeon to the duck. When fully ripe, 

 it is of a colour between a grey and a dingy 

 damascene, with a yellowish-green pulp. The 

 flavour is slightly aromatic, and thought to 

 partake of that of both the melon and the 



h 4 



