12 



PASSIFLORA KERMESINA. 



having led them to compare the five stamens to the five wounds ; the three styles 

 to the nails ; the column which supports the germ to the cross ; and the filamentous 

 rays to the crown of thorns. 



The species of Passiflora already known, exclusive of hybrids and varieties, 

 amount to nearly 130, which are very appropriately divided by De Candolle into 

 sections, according to certain differences observed in their mode of growtti. Our 

 present plant will take its station in the 5th section, Decaloba, so named from the 

 division of the floral envelopes into 10 lobes. This elegant species (which is 

 unquestionably one of the most beautiful of this interesting genus of climbers, and 

 an almost constant flowerer), will be a valuable acquisition to the stove. It is 

 stated to have been introduced to the garden of the London Horticultural Society 

 from Berlin, by Mr. Bentham, in the autumn of 1831. Our drawing was made 

 from a plant in the collection of George Barker, Esq., of Springfield, near this 

 town. It differs in some degree from one figured in the Bot. Reg. fol. 1633, the 

 segments of which flower are described by Dr. Lindley as acute ; in our specimen 

 they are obtuse. The richness of colour displayed by its flowers is beyond the 

 power of art to imitate ; at the same time, it is but justice to admit that our 

 artist has succeeded beyond our expectation. When fully expanded, the segments 

 of the flower are perfectly flat ; and spreading horizontally display themselves for 

 a while in all their glory; but in a few hours they become reflexed, as represented 

 in our plate, and at length returning close for ever. 



Thus Hope, the passion-flower of human life, 

 Whose -wild luxuriance mocks the pruner's knife, 

 Profuse in promise, makes a like display 

 Of evanescent blooms — that last a day ! 



Dr. Edmund Cartwright. 



To be grown in perfection, it will require a hot, damp stove ; and should be 

 planted in a compost of loam, peat, and sand, in one of the compartments allotted 

 for climbers, and trained against a trellis, or under one of the rafters. It is said 

 to be propagated with difficulty ; it is probable, however, that cuttings of the 

 young lateral shoots, when about 3 inches long, would strike if planted in sand 

 and placed in a good bottom-heat. 



