146 
COMESPERNA GRACILIS. 
which have since been developed, and at the time our drawing was taken, the 
plant was one of the most beautiful objects we ever witnessed, the profusion of 
flowers being truly astonishing. 
It is an extremely slow-growing plant, the specimen raised in 1834 not being 
at the present time more than three feet high ; and another peculiarity is, that the 
leaves, which are never very conspicuous, progressively decay, leaving the base of 
the stems entirely naked. Being a twining species, it is important that the 
shoots should be secured to stakes, or other material, in the direction which they 
are desired to take, at an early period of their growth, otherwise they will twine 
around each other in such a manner, as to render a more regular disposition of 
them impracticable without greatly injuring them. 
In its cultivation there are few particulars worthy of remark, except that it has 
been deemed advisable, in potting, to elevate the soil a little in the centre of the 
pot, to facilitate the escape of water, as the roots, being small, are susceptible of 
injury from any redundance of this element. A mixture of loam and peat has 
been found a suitable compost for this plant, but it may here be observed that the 
soil should be enriched as much as may be deemed consistent, in order to promote 
a greater degree of luxuriance than has yet been attained. 
Cuttings of the young shoots will strike if planted in pure sand, placed in a 
gentle heat, and preserved from superfluous moisture ; and seeds, which ripen 
tolerably well, will most probably vegetate by being slightly stimulated. 
In the nursery of Messrs. Young, Epsom, the specimen from which our figure 
was obtained flowered in great perfection in April last. 
The generic name alludes to the little feathery tuft of hairs which is attached 
to each of the seeds. 
