PASSIFLORACE^. 



75 



loured ; petals, five or none, inserted into the calyx ; crown of 

 many filiform rays ; fruit stalked and fleshy. 



Named from the supposed resemblance in the appendages 

 of the flower, to the passion of Christ. Several of these in- 

 teresting and beautiful plants are hardy ; about a dozen re- 

 quire the greenhouse, and many more can only be cultivated 

 here in the stove. Those for the greenhouse are as follows : — 

 from North America we have maculata, gracilis, and angu- 

 lata, the flowers of which are white ; from South America, 

 Jieterophylla (an annual) , punctata, ligularis, incarnata, an- 

 gulata, verrucifera, edulis, filamentosa, palmata, etc., with 

 variously coloured flowers ; from China we have Chinensis, 

 with blue flowers. There are also several hybrid species : — 

 cceruleo-racemosa, purple ; alata, racemosa, rose-coloured ; 

 and sanguinea, crimson. P. elegans is a splendid species, 

 from South America, and is said to succeed in the green- 

 house ; its scarlet petals and upright cup -like crown, of a 

 lavender hue, render it very attractive and singular. P. au- 

 rantia and adiantifolia, from Norfolk Island, with orange 

 and yellow flowers, and Herhertiana, from Australia, with 

 straw-coloured flowers, form the new genus Disemma ; these 

 are also greenhouse climbers, and should be planted in 

 good loamy soil, with plenty of room for their roots. P. 



