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IPOMCEA OBLONGATA. — VEGETABLE TERATOLOGY. 
IPOMCGA OBLONGATA. 
Nat, Order. — Contolvilaceje. 
Generic Character.— Ipom&a, Linnteus. — Calyx of five 
sepals. Corolla bell-shaped. Stamens included. Style one ; 
stigma most frequently two-lobed. Ovary two-celled, cells 
two-seeded. Capsule two-celled. — Herbs, under-shrubs, or 
even trees, from all parts of the globe, especially the "warmer. — 
{Be Cand. Prodromus, ix. 348.) 
Ipomcea oblongata, E. Meyer 3ISS. — Oblong-leaved Ipo- 
mcca. — Stem elongated, compressed, moderately hirsute-vil- 
lous ; leaves ovate-oblong, rounded at the base, acute at the 
apex, margin entire, ciliate, vrith scattered adpressed hairs on 
both faces, 1-2 inches long ; petioles villous, 3-6 lines long ; 
peduncles axillary, nearly equalling the leaves, one-flowered, 
rather glabrous, with two opposite linear bracts beneath the 
flower ; sepals oblong ; linear very acute, 4-5 lines long, sub- 
equal, rather villous, ciliated; corolla red, 1.} inch long, glab- 
rous, bell-shaped. — {De Cand. Prodr., ix. 368). 
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BESCBIPTION". — A trailing herbaceous perennial, with large fleshy roots eighteen inches 
long and fifteen inches in circumference, producing numerous hairy stems, five or sis feet 
long, bearing rather distant leaves on stalks mostly less than one inch long. Leaves 2 to 2\ 
inches long, variable in form, broadly or narrowly ovate-lanceolate or cordate-lanceolate, with 
scattered longish hairs on both faces, the margins fringed ; the reticulations of the veins 
purplish and hairy on the under side. Peduncles solitary on the axils of the leaves, and not so 
long as them, hairy, one- or two-flowered, with a pair of linear hairy bracts near the calyx; 
when two-flowered, forked above the bracts and always thickened from them into the base of the 
calyx. Calyx of five sepals, three lanceolate and two subulate, all acute and hirsute, about eight 
lines long. Corolla large and bell-shaped, with a purplish-rose limb, obscurely five-angled. 
Stamens unequal in length, three long and two short ; filaments expanded into the base and 
with a woolly tuft at the tip of the obtuse expanded scale-like portion. Stigma two-lobed. 
History, &c. — We refer our plant with some hesitation to Drege's plant, of which we have 
a bad specimen, and which is smaller in all parts of the flower. But it seems not unlikely 
that cultivation may have modified this, as Drege's plants were gathered at an elevation of 
1 500 feet. It seems near the /. crassijjes, Hooker (Bot. Mag., 4068.) — A. H. 
For the opportunity of figuring this fine species of Ipomcea, we are indebted to the Bev. 
Thomas Booper, of Wick Hill, Brighton, who received, in October 1849, one of its large fleshy 
roots from his son, Capt. E. Booper, by whom it had been found growing in the valley of the 
Buffalo Biver, near King William's Town, in British Kaffraria. Its habit is to throw out long 
trailing — not climbing — stems, and no seeds were at any time found on the wild plants. 
Mr. Booper describes the roots as unsightly masses, having much resemblance to an elephant's 
foot. At Brighton it has flowered from May to September, producing one or two flowers at 
cvciy leaf-joint, and opening many flowers daily. 
Culture. — This is a half-hardy or greenhouse species ; kept in a stove it would not flower, 
and exposed out of doors in a pot it bloomed veiy indifferentl} 7 , whilst it has thriven admirably 
in a cold frame. Mr. Smyth, the gardener at Wick Hill, describes the treatment he has given 
it, as follows : — " Last March I filled a cold pit with a mixture of loam, peat, and sand, in 
equal parts, adding a small quantity of well decomposed dung. The plant was turned out into 
this soil, and kept near the glass, air being admitted freely during the day in fine weather. As 
soon as it began to grow, abundant supplies of water were given. It flowered for the first time 
in May 18.51, and continued to produce a profusion of blossoms until September. In the hottest 
days the flowers keep open until late at night, and keep their colour well. When in a dormant 
state, the roots should be kept nearly dry."' Mr. Smyth further informs us that he has no doubt 
it will prove to be quite hardy, that is, of course, if planted in very sheltered situations, and 
where it can be kept dry during winter. — M. 
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VEGETABLE TEEATOLOGY. 
A VARIETY OF PAPAVER WITH ANTHERS TRANSFORMED To CARPELS." 
Uy Puoffessoii GCEri'EKT. 
BE CANDOLLE, in his Organographie Vegetal, figured a head of l'npnvcr around which two or three 
of the stamens had changed into capsules. Subsequently, in 1S32, I presented to the Congress of 
a Naturalists, at Vienna, a more complete specimen of a similar monstrosity, the greater number of the 
• From tin 1 linn- drs Scrrfs. 
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