126 
PLEROMA KUNTHIANUM. 
The petals are of good texture, and fit very compactly together, which, witl 
their large size, and the white speck at the base of each, enable them to forr 
a blossom of a very superior order. I 
The species has been represented as one of tardy growth. This, however, i^ 
by no means the truth, under proper management ; for with genial culture, i 
grows vigorously and flowers freely. Several cultivators, neverthelfess, have failei 
to obtain blossoms even from strong healthy specimens, — a disappointment wind 
seems to be owing chiefly to the neglect of encouragement to grow early in tlr' 
season, and of proper steps to mature the wood in autumn. This opinion receive 
strength from the facts, that the flowers are only produced at the extreme point o 
the summer s shoots, and that th< 
latter will grow as much as fou 
or five feet before they bloom. 
This rapidity of growth pointij 
out the necessity of pruning verj 
closely after flowering, in order t( 
preserve the lower part of th 
plant clothed with foliage, am 
also with a view to obtain ai 
equally stout growth in the sucj 
ceeding season. Very fine bushel 
may thus be produced in a fev 
years ; but it is not requisite h 
have old specimens to obtaii 
flowers. Mr. Loraine’s plan 
was reared from a cutting tin 
previous autumn, and headed dowi 
to three or four eyes in the spring 
A similar specimen was flowere( 
about the same time by Mr 
Moor, gardener to R. Handbury 
Esq., of Stamford-hill. 
The specific name was given ir 
compliment to M. Kunth, the cele 
brated Prussian botanist, and co 
adjutor of Humboldt and Bonplanc 
in the publication of the plants discovered by those distinguished travellers durin£ 
their well-hnown jmivnev tlirouQ^li Tropical America. 
