BIGNOIS 1ACEM. 



223 



BIGNONIACEJH. 



Exogens, with the calyx divided or entire. Corolla mono- 

 petalous, usually irregular, four or five-lobed. Stamens five, 

 unequal, one always sterile, sometimes three. Ovary seated on 

 a disc, two-celled. Leaves opposite, very rarely alternate, com- 

 pound or simple. — Trees, shrubs, or occasionally herbs, often 

 twining or climbing ; natives of the tropics and America ; flow- 

 ers very attractive. 



TECOMA. 



Gen. Char. (Didynamia Angiospermia.) Calyx five-cleft, cup- 

 shaped ; corolla bell-shaped, five-cleft, ventricose beneath ; pod 

 two-celled. 



A genus of plants some of which are climbers, and 

 adapted to the greenhouse; others require greater heat. 

 T. Anstralis, with blush-coloured flowers, jasminoides, of 

 the same hue, and diversifolia, with yellow blossoms, are 

 Australian plants ; Capensis, with orange flowers, is a Cape 

 plant; grandiflora, with large orange flowers, is Chinese; 

 those of radicans are also orange-coloured, and the plant is 

 hardy enough for the open air in a sheltered place; it is a 

 native of North America, and was introduced more than two 

 hundred years ago. They prefer a good rich loam. 



