THE THUNBERGIA. 
385 
THE THUNBERGIA. 
Apart from any inherent elegance of habit, 
and altogether irrespective of intrinsic beauty, 
the "climbers" are a class of plants which 
meet with universal favour. This is, per- 
haps, owing to a certain adaptability which 
they possess, and in consequence of which 
they may always be invested with a certain 
degree of appropriateness wherever intro- 
duced. Thunbergias are of this character. 
Most people who are at all acquainted with 
flowers know something of Thunbergias, one 
or two of the species and some of their varie- 
ties being rather commonly grown. They all 
possess a certain degree of resemblance, which 
is apparent in their climbing habit, their 
more or less heart-shaped leaves variously 
angled on the margins, and in the form of 
their blossoms. As moderate-sized climbers 
for pot-culture, they may be grown with very 
good effect ; they may also be planted as per- 
manent creepers in greenhouses and conser- 
vatories ; and some of the kinds flourish in 
favourable situations out of doors in summer. 
The genus is not a very extensive one. 
About nine species are, we believe, cultivated 
in gardens, and of these some varieties have 
been produced. The name is given in honour 
of Thunberg, a celebrated botanist and tra- 
veller, and the author of some botanical 
works. The Thunbergias belong to the na- 
tural group Acanthaceas ; and the Linnsean 
Didynamia Angiospermia. Some of the spe- 
cies are, according to the most modern nomen- 
clature, distinguished by other generic names, 
which we shall indicate as we come to them ; 
our purpose, however, will be best served by 
48. 
retaining the older and better known title. 
The following kinds are in cultivation : — 
Thuribergia alata, Bojer (wing petioled 
Thunbergia). — A slender climbing perennial 
plant, growing about four or five feet in 
height under favourable circumstances, clothed 
with soft cordate- sagittate opposite leaves, 
sometimes toothed, and sometimes nearly void 
of toothing, and bearing from the axils a 
profusion of buff-coloured blossoms with a 
rich black centre ; the flowers consist of a 
tube, which is dilated at top, and a spreading 
limb of two inches diameter, divided into five 
nearly equal rounded segments. It is a native 
of the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba, on the 
eastern coast of Africa, and was introduced in 
1823. It blooms from May to October. There 
are several very distinct varieties : — albiflora 
has the flowers pure white, with the dark 
centre ; aurantiaca has deep orange- buff 
flowers, dark in the centre ; Fryerii has the 
flowers orange-buff coloured, with a whitish 
centre, and is besides large, and very round 
and well defined in its outline. These three 
are the handsomest, and the best of all for 
common purposes. Besides these there are 
the following, which are probably varieties of 
alata : — Hakerii with pure white flowers ; and 
lutea with pale buff-coloured flowers, whitish 
in the centre. 
Thmibergia angulata, Bojer (angulated 
Thunbergia). — A slender climbing perennial 
plant, growing about four feet high, with cor- 
dately-triangular, and, in some cases, acutely 
arrow-shaped opposite leaves, and producing 
small pale purplish flowers, with a greenish 
tube ; they proceed from the axils. It is not 
a very showy plant. A native of Madagascar, 
and introduced in 1821. It flowers from May 
to September. 
Thunbergia ra/)e??s«r,Linna5us (Cape of Good 
Hope Thunbergia). — A small slender climbing 
perennial plant, with soft heart-shaped, slightly 
toothed opposite leaves, and clear yellow 
flowers, which are represented to grow ou 
very long footstalks from the axils of the 
leaves. It is a native of the Cape of Good 
Hope, and was introduced in 1824. It flowers 
freely during the summer. 
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