268 
HARDENBERGIA MACROPHYLLA. 
branching widely, and being well covered with its handsome foliage. The racemes 
of flowers, too, are particularly abundant, and often diverge into three or four 
branches, thus forming a large cluster. Their colour is a brilliant purple, which 
does not fade by drying, as we have a specimen now before us the hue of the 
flowers on which is very nearly as rich as at the period when it was gathered. 
Its culture, though assimilating for the most part to that of H. Comptoniana , 
should be varied in one important particular. The plant referred to seems to thrive 
and flower best when it is kept in a pot ; but H. macrophylla is more suitable for 
planting in the border of a conservatory, where it can be allowed to cling to the pillars, 
or to chains or wires placed purposely for the support of climbers, and spread out 
its branches in all directions, without having them materially shortened. So 
managed, it constitutes a beautiful object, with the combined appearance of a shrub 
and a climbing plant. It may, nevertheless, be grown in a pot, and either trained 
in a similar way, or fastened to any kind of trellis of adequate dimensions. We 
must mention, however, that when its growth is stunted and contracted by con- 
finement at the roots, it never exhibits that vigour and beauty which are common 
to it under more congenial and natural treatment. 
The soil in which it flourishes best is a fresh light loam, to which about a third 
as much heath-mould and sand is added, and the whole well reduced and incor- 
porated, but not divested of its fibrous or decayed vegetable matter by sifting. It 
flowers in the principal summer months. 
Cuttings, ordinarily treated, root with the usual facility ; and, as it produces 
seeds abundantly, it may be extensively propagated by them. 
