98 THE FLORIST AND 



shortness of its peduncles. For want of objects of comparison, we 

 accept this distinction as founded, in mentioning for the acquittal of 

 our conscience the doubts expressed in this matter by Dr. A. Hen- 

 frey, one of the skilful editors of the " Gardeners' Magazine of Bo- 

 tany." — Dr. Planchon, in the " Flore des Serres.'* 



This beautiful climber flowered last summer in the garden of Mr. 

 J. F. Knorr, of West Philadelphia, who obtained it from Messrs. 

 Low, of Clapton. It is very free flowering, and nearly equal in 

 size to P. Learii ; I have measured them B| ins. across the limb. It 

 will need in this climate to be started in the greenhouse, and the 

 quicker it is grown the better, as it sometimes commences to flower 

 in the axils of its first leaves, when all hopes of its growing may be 

 given up. — Ed. 



HISTORY AND CULTIVATION. 



Few orders of plants have attained to such a popularity as that 

 of which the plant figured is a representative — Convolvulacece. Its 

 cottage name of " Morning Glory" is significant of its extensive es- 

 timation amongst all classes, for the people will not have a "jaw- 

 breaking" name for a flower which they love. Its popular appre- 

 ciation is also a test of its beauty, for mere rarity has few admirers 

 amongst the masses. Very few species are in cultivation compared 

 with the great number that have been described by botanists. In 

 their wild state they are scattered over the greater part of the world. 

 In the tropics they are very abundant, becoming scarcer in temper- 

 ate latitudes, till in cold regions they disappear altogether. In the 

 former they are principally comprised under Ipomoea, receding from 

 the tropics they merge into Convolvulus, till reaching the boundar- 

 ies of their geographical zone they dwindle, as it were, to that sec- 

 tion represented by Calystegia, of which the C. sepium of English 

 hedges and the pest of British gardeners in cultivated ground, is a 

 familiar example. That section of most importance to cultivators 

 is comprised by Ipomoea ; they are all twining shrubs, the perennial 

 species being either tuberous or fibrous, and all dying down after 

 they have produced their flowers and perfected their seeds. Where 

 the flowers are not allowed to perfect their seed, some species will 



