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TROPjEOLUM majus atrosanguineum. 
(dark RED INDIAN CRESS.) 
CLASS. ORDER. 
OCTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
TROPiEOLEJE. 
Generic Character. — ■ Calyx five cleft and spurred. Petals five, unequal. Germen three sided. 
Specific Character. — Annual. Stem round, smooth, branching, two feet high, covered with small red 
spots. I, eaves on long irregular footstalks, round, with from five to seven broad even angles, slightly 
covered with hairs on the upper side, and more thickly on the under. Flowers large, dark velvety 
red. Calyx bright orange, with five or six longitudinal stripes of red extending nearly the length of 
the spur. Petals five, nearly equal in size, three lower ones with long incurved claws attached to 
the broad part, the base of which is fringed with a number of small segments terminating in fine 
bristles, the base of the two upper somewhat orange, striped with seven longitudinal lines. 
Synonyms. — Cardaminam ampliori folio et majori fiord Tournef. Acriviola maxima odorata. — JBoerh. 
The Tropceolum majus , of which the present plant is a variety,, is a native of 
Peru, and is stated to have been introduced as early as 1684. Elizabeth Christine, 
one of the daughters of Linnaeus, is said to have perceived the flowers emit sparks 
like those of electricity, visible only in the evening, but this we have never yet 
observed. 
All the species are easy of culture, and very strong, particularly the present 
variety. It does not grow so rampant as the common kind, but is much handsomer, 
and will, like it, grow in any light rich soil. 
It is very readily increased by seeds and cuttings of the stem, cut off at a joint, 
and planted in pots of light soil, and placed in a slight heat, without glasses, or if 
not placed in heat they will grow when planted under a handglass, on a shady 
border. 
