THUNBERGIA. 



169 



THUNBERGIA. 



This genus of plants, named in honor of Charles 

 P. Thunberg, a celebrated traveller and botanist, is 

 mostly native of Cape of Good Hope and East In- 

 dies. They are free-blooming climbers, adapted to 

 a warm location in the garden, but very much bet- 

 ter suited to the house and conservatory. The 

 flowers are white, buff, or orange, generally with a 

 dark eye. The plant starts slowly at first, but when 

 it begins to run, makes a rapid growth and may be 

 used for hanging baskets, if a climbing rather than 

 a trailing vine is desired. 



SOIL, GENERAL TREATMENT AND VARIETIES. 



The Thunbergia succeeds well in a mixture of 

 sandy loam and leaf-mold. 



It requires a moderate supply of wa :r, and 

 thrives in the ordinary temperature of the house. 



They are readily increased by seeds, or by cut- 

 tings started in sand. Seeds may be sown under 

 glass early in spring for summer flowering, or in 

 August, in pots for the house. They will begin to 

 bloom w T hen quite small, but the early flower-buds 

 should be removed until the plant is of the required 

 size, as growth stops, if they are allowed to bloom 

 too early. They may be grown in pots and trained 

 to a trellis, or in baskets, and be allowed to either 

 climb or trail. 



Tfycnbergia alata, buff, with white eye. 

 T\ alba, white, with dark eye. 

 T. aurantiaca, bright orange, dark eye. 

 T. Bakerii) pure white. 



