A GOMELEAT BODY, &. 
O&wb. 
Pl. 60. 
Fig. ¥, 
at the Tops of {mall Shoots, from the Bofoms of 
the Leaves. 
Each Flower has its Cup formed of one Leaf, 
permanent, and cut at the Rim into five equal 
— Segments. 
The Flower is formed of one Petal, hollow, 
and cut at the Verge into five fmall expanded 
Segments. Five Filaments occupy the Centre; 
they are inferted into the Tube, and equal it in 
Length; and they have oblong Buttons. 
The Style is fingle, longer than the Filaments, 
thickeft in the upper Part, and there divided into 
two Heads. It rifes from a double Rudiment, 
which ripens into a Capfule compofed of two 
broad obtufe Lobes, ces tend out; and fplit 
inwards. | 
The Seeds are numerous, and ‘niall 
The five Filaments and fingle Style refer the 
Plant to the Pentandria Monogynia of Linnavs, 
his fifth Clafs, ‘and its firft Section: 
Culture of this Opuioruiza. 
It is a Native of many Parts of the Eaf Indies, 
and is there familiarly known, and in great Repute 
-againft Poifons. They have a fabulous Story, 
that its Virtues were difcovered by the Creature, 
whence it is vulgarly named ; Mungos, which, they 
fay, eats it, when bit by a Viper. 
We know how to laugh at thefe Tales; but 
we may underftand ‘by this that the Plant is fo well 
known, that Seeds may be eafily procured with- 
out Danger of Miftake; and they will thoot freely 
in a Pot of rich Mould in a Bark-bed: they 
fhould be tranfplanted at three Inches high into 
feparate Pots ; and after they are well rooted, and 
tolerably grown, they fhould be removed into the 
Stove to flower. 
bere TT DCO WV OLY UE s. 
- This elegant Plant we owe to the Diligence of 
thofe who have vifited the American Wands in 
the Purfuit of Science. Its Singularity and Beauty 
equally entitle it to a Place in our Gardens. 
The earlier Writers ‘could not know it: it is 
figured by Sir Hans Stoanz under the Name of 
Convolvulus folio lanato tripartito: Lunn mvs re- 
fers it alfo to the Convolvulus Kind; and adds 
as the Diftinction of the Species, foliis trilobis 
tomentofis, caule lanuginofo: woolly Convolvulus, 
with trilobated Leaves. 
The Root is long and white, and runs a great 
Way under the Surface. 
The Stalk is round, weak, of a pale green, 
covered with a white downy Matter: when fup- 
ported among Bufhes, it will rife to a very con- 
fiderable Height. 
The Leaves ftand alternately, and remote ; 
they have long Footftalks, whitifh, and downy 
at the main Rian, and rifing in an acute | 
Angle. 
The Leaves themfelves are large, broad,  di- 
--vided almoft to the Bafe into three Lobes, which 
are broad, fharp pointed, and undivided at the 
Edges. Their Colour is alfo a whitith green, | 
nde they are _ thick, covered with the fame woolly 
Down. 
The Flowers ftand hai on long Footftalks, 
tifing from the Bofoms of the D cabiedi ; and - 
‘are large, and of a beautiful purple. 
Each has its Cup formed of a fingle Leaf, cut 
into five Segments at the Edge. 
The Flower is formed of. ‘one Petal, and is } 
Jong, hollow, and undivided at the Rim. 
The Filaments are five; they are fhort, and 
are. crowned with flatted oval Buttons. 
The Style is fingle, but crowned with two 
Heads; and the Fruit an oblong Mesa with 
feveral large Seeds. 
| - Flowers, 
The five Filaments and fingle Style place this 
Plant among the Pentandria Monogynia of Lin- 
nzeus, the fifth of his Claffes, and its firft Sec- 
tion. — ) . 
Culture of this Convoivutus. 
It is a Native of Yamaica, and other warm 
Parts of the Weft Indies, and loves a loofe rich 
Soil. With us it muft be raifed from Seeds; 
and allowed the Heat of a Stove; but its Ma- 
nagement is eafy to thofe who have this Advan- 
tage, and it will make a very elegant Appear- 
ance among the other Plants when brought to 
flower. ; 
‘The Seeds muft be obtained from fome of the 
Iflands where it is native, and fowa in March 
upon fome of the light Compofts, in a Pot. This 
muft be fet up to the Rim in a Bark-bed, and 
-at Times gently watered. 
‘When the young Plants appear they muft be 
thinned, if chev rife too clofe, and often refrefhed 
with Water; but it muft be given a little at a 
Time, and with the utmoft Care; for if the 
Plants are too much wetted when fo young, they 
never thrive well afterwards. 
At three Inches high they muft be tranfplanted 
into’ feparate Pots. Thefe muft be fet up to the 
Rim in the Bark-bed, as the others, and a Mat 
muft be drawn over the Glaffes to fhade them 
till they are rooted. They muft be allowed to 
take fome farther Growth ‘in this Place, and then 
removed into the e Stove. 
will flower in great Profufion. T hey are re- 
markably handfome when in full Bloom, from 
the fine Contraft of the white Leaves and purple 
3 
INDEX. 
~ Otob. 
