II 



PASSIFLORA KERMESINA. 



(Crimson Passion-flower.) 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



monadelphia pentandria. passiflore^e. — (Juss. Ann. Mm. 6. 102. De Canal. Prod. 



3. 321.) passifloracete. — {Li/ndl. Nat. Syst. Bot.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Passiflora (Juss. Gen. 397.) Calycis tubus brevissimus, faux corona filamentosa multiplied 

 ornata. Bacca saspiiis pulposa, rarius submembranacea. 



Tube of the calyx very short ; the throat ornamented with a multiple filamentous crown. 

 Berry generally pulpy, rarely somewhat membranous. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



Passiflora Kermesina • glaberrima, folns cordatis trilobis basi glanduloso-serrulatis, subtus 

 rubro-purpureis, petiolis bi-glandulosis, pedunculis solitariis foliis multb longioribus. 



Descr. — Plant very smooth, with cordate, three-lobed leaves, glanduloso-serrulated at the base, 

 purplish-red underneath, petioles bi-glandular, peduncles solitary, much longer than the leaves. 



Passiflora Kermesina. — Link et Otto. 



A slender climbing shrub, with a smooth round dark-green stem. The leaves 

 are shining, of a dark-green colour on their upper surface, and a pale purplish- 

 red beneath, the lobes serrulated at the base, and the serratures furnished with 

 shortly stipitate glands ; the petioles round, with two small stipitate glands near 

 the middle ; the stipules foliaceous, semi-cordate, somewhat tendrilled at the apex, 

 and occasionally toothed towards the base. The peduncles are slender, axillary,' 

 and, like the rest of the genus, have an evident articulation beneath the flower. 

 The calyx is crimson, the divisions of which are linear-oblong, obtuse. The petals 

 in form and colour resemble the sepals, but are somewhat larger. The corona 

 consists of a series of filamentous rays, the exterior of which are tipped with 

 white. These elegant appendages of the flower are somewhat ambiguous in 

 their nature : they have been considered by some as abortive stamens ; while 

 Dr. Lindley is disposed to regard them as a peculiar modification of petals. 



The name of Passion-flower is said to have been given to this remarkable 

 genus of plants from a supposition of some of the older botanists that the append- 

 ages of the flower represent the passion of our Saviour ; their fertile imagination 



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