THE WINGED PASSION-FLOWER, 



OR, 



PASSIFLORA ALATA. 



This beautiful tribe of plants we owe to the discovery of a new world. They grow luxuriant 

 in various parts of that continent, but are chiefly to be met with in South America. Murucuia 

 is the ancient American name; and this is retained by Tournefort, but is dropped by Linnaeus. 

 Elegantly hanging on its peduncle, or footstalk, the Alata Passion-flower far surpasses all its 

 kindred both as to the elegance and brilliancy of its appearance. It exhibits much more of 

 majesty than the rest, and discloses a trait in nature which has often puzzled shallow philoso- 

 phers. In the quadrangular and blue passion-flowers you saw an involucrum consisting of three 

 large concave orbicular leaves protecting the flower in the early stage; here we possess only 

 three small serrated spear-shaped leaves, which affords abundant proof that use is not always 

 the plan of nature, but that she indulges sometimes in ornament. Thus we have nipples which 

 answer no other end but as a correspondence with our better halves. So also the stipules on 

 the stalk are equally small, and, consequently, cannot serve the purpose of protection; but in 

 such instances, we may remark, that nature is ceconomic. As another essential difference, we 

 cannot fail to notice the double radiance, serving as a most elegant Indian parasol to ward off 

 the piercing rays of an ardent sun from the organs destined to reproduce the species. Here 

 the Filaments, Anthers, and Pistillum are compressed into a smaller space; and the Nectarium 

 is first defended by small teeth placed in several rows, and as if this was not a sufficient guard, 

 nature has also formed a complete barrier, by a thick membraneous expansion closely locking 

 up this reservoir of nectar. The Alata Passionflower was first introduced into the English gar- 

 den by Mr. Malcolm, in 1773. It, of course, arranges under the same class and order as the 

 other Passion-flowers, and exhibits to a fervent imagination the same fancy of a crucifix; 

 and here we might add, that the column in the centre is spotted as if stained with blood. 



Beneath the covert of o'erarching trees 



Bright Murucuia woos the cooling breeze. 



The passing Indian turns th' admiring eye, 



Smit by the glories of her crimson dye, 



And stops, in pleas'd attention, to survey 



Her vivid leaves and variegated ray. — 



But loftier thoughts the rising mind inspire 



When warm devotion lends her holy fire. 



Haply amid the convent's virgin train, 



Bosom'd in shades beyond the western main, 



At rosy morn, or evening's silent hour, 



Some fair Enthusiast views the tainted flower: 



When lo! to rapt imagination's eye 



Springs the sad scene of darken'd Calvary! 



The thorny crown the heavenly brows around, 1 



The scourging thongs, the galling cords that bound, \ 



And nails that piere'd 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. 





