156 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
GENUS II. 
DISEMMA Labill THE DISEMMA. 
Un. Syst. MONADELPHIA PENTANDRIA. 
Generic Character. — Tube of the calyx short, furrowed below; crown of the throat double, the outer row composed of distinct filamentous 
threads, the inner one tubular with an entire or toothed border. 
Description, &c. — The species contained in this genus were formerly included in Passifiora, but they have been | 
separated on account of the formation of the crown, which, instead of being composed of long slender threads as in || 
Passifiora, consists of two rows of very short threads, the outer one of which has the threads erect, while in the j 
inner one they are pressed closely down round the pistil, which is remarkably long and erect. Disemma is derived !| 
from two Greek words signifying double-crowned, in allusion to the filaments in the centre of the flower. '| 
1.— DISEMMA ADIANTIFOLIA Dec. THE NORFOLK ISLAND PASSION FLOWER. 
Synonvmes. — Passifiora adiantifolia Ker ; P. glabra Wend. ; P. 
adiantum Willd . ; P. aurantia Andr . ; Murucuja adiantifolia Sweet. 
Engravings. — Bot. Reg., t. 233; Bot. Rep., t. 295. 
Specific Character. — Leaves glabrous, glandular beneath, truncate 
at the base, three or five-lobed ; lobes obtuse, somewhat three-cleft. i 
Petioles glandless, a little longer than the pedicels. Petals shorter j 
than the calyx. i| 
Description, &c. — A very ornamental plant, climbing to a considerable height, and having somewhat angular f 
and twisted branches. The leaves bear considerable resemblance in shape to those of the Maiden Hair Fern, but I 
they are of a much brighter green, and are delicately veined. The stipules are very small and awl-shaped ; but j 
the tendrils are long and spiral. The peduncles of the flowers are jointed a little above the middle. The flowers |i 
before they expand look reddish, but when they open they are of a very pale buff, which afterwards changes to a j 
brick red ; they have no scent, but are very ornamental, particularly in their later stage. The species is a native ji 
of Norfolk Island, where it is found climbing up some of the tallest trees, and hanging in festoons from their 
branches, and whence it was introduced in 1792. j 
I 
I 
2.— DISEMMA HERBERTIANA Dec. 
Synonvmes. — Passifiora Herbertiana Ker ; Murucuja Herbertiana 
Sweet. 
Engraving. — Bot. Reg., t. 737. 
Specific Character. — Leaves pubescent, cordate at the base, broadly 
LORD CAERNARVON’S DISEMMA, 
three-lobcd ; lobes ovate, acute. Petioles biglandular at the apex. 
Pedicels twin, one-flowered. Bracteas bristle-formed, very remote 
from the flower. Threads of the outer crown three or four times 
shorter than the inner calycine lobes or petals. (0. Don.') 
Description, &c. — The flowers of this species are of a greenish white, but the crown is of a golden yellow. 
The plant is a native of the interior of New Holland, whence it was introduced in 1821 by Lord Caernarvon, in li 
honour of whose family name it is called Herbertiana. 
3.— DISEMMA AURANTIA Lahill. 
Synonvmes. — Murucuja aurantia Pers.; Passifiora aurantia Forst. 
Engraving. — Bot. Mag., t. 4140. 
Specific Character. — Leaves glabrous, ovate at the base, broadly 
three-lobed ; lobes obtuse, middle lobe the longest ; lateral ones 
THE NEW CALEDONIA DISEMMA. 
furnished with a kind of appendage each on the outside. Bracteas 
bristle-formed, glandular at the apex, rather remote from the flower. 
Petioles biglandular at the apex. Threads of outer crown about 
equal in length to the inner lobes of the calyx or petals. ((?. Don.) 
Description, &c. — A very ornamental plant, a native of New Caledonia, whence it was introduced in 1844. 
The flowers are white in the bud, and on first expanding, but they gradually assume a yellow or orange tinge, and 
