238 



DOMESTIC BOTANY. 



spinacli. B. I'uhra yields a rich purple dye, but it is not 

 permanent. 



Boussingaltia haselloides, a native of the Andean regions of 

 South America, has strong perennial roots, and long inter- 

 lacing stems which attain considerable height, and produce 

 clusters of small fragrant white flowers. It grows freely in 

 the open air in this country during summer, and is a very 

 ornamental plant. 



The Marvel of Peru Family. 



(Nyctaginace^.) 



Trees or shrubs, sometimes with strong hooked thorns 

 and climbing, generally with alternate -leaves ; or herbs, pe- 

 rennial or annual, with thick jointed stems, and opposite 

 leaves. Flowers solitary, or in clusters, often contained 

 within a large leafy green or coloured involucre. Fruit 

 bladder-like, sometimes enclosed within the persistent in- 

 volucre. 



About 100 species compose this family. They are found 

 widely dispersed over the tropics, the pretty genus Ahronia 

 extending to North- West America. They possess no parti- 

 cular properties. 



The family is represented in gardens by the Marvel of 

 Peru" {Mirahilis Jalapa), which has been known in this 

 country for more than two hundred and fifty years ; it is said 

 to be a native of both Indies, but this must be considered 

 uncertain. It has large black tuberous roots, which were at 

 one time supposed to produce jalap. This, as well as M. 

 longiflora, are handsome garden plants, opening their pretty 

 tube-like various coloured flowers, or properly calyx, in the 

 afternoon, hence called Four- o'clock-flower. 



Bougainvillcea spectahilis, B. speciosa, and B. glabra, na- 

 tives of tropical America, are rude trailing or climbing 

 ampelids, generally furnished with strong hooked thorns. 

 They are much admired in this country for their showy 



