CONVOLVULACE.E. 
217 
CONVQLVULACEiE. 
WITH A FIGURE OF CALYSTEGIA PUBESCENS. 
Although tlie subject of our present plate leads us to notice 
the natural order of which it forms part, and, by extending our 
remarks over the several beautiful genera which compose it, 
increase the interest and utility of this paper, it is necessary to 
explain that the Calystegiapubescens can hardly be regarded as an 
illustration of that order, for it is a complete anomaly among its 
congeners, being the only convolvulaceous plant yet known to 
produce double flowers, the leading features of the more promi¬ 
nent genera being their showy funnel-shaped blossoms ; and the 
possibility of a really double flowering plant existing in the 
order, was perhaps never thought of till it was actually in our 
possession; however, wonders crowd so fast upon the attentive 
observer of animate and inanimate nature, in these days of 
research and discovery, that we cease to be astonished, and turn 
with admiration from one strange form to another still more 
new. 
The order under consideration formerly contained nine genera 
distinguished as Convolvulacece genuince , and three others forming 
the sub-order Hydrolece ; those of the primary section have been 
extended by the divisions of modern botanists, and by introduc¬ 
tions to twenty genera, while the secondary group have been ele¬ 
vated to the position of a distinct order. So that Convolvulacese 
is now composed of Aniseia, Argyreia , Batatas, Breweria, Cato- 
nyction, Calystegia, Convolvulus, Cressa, Evolvulus, Exogonium , 
Ipomcea, Leptocallis, Mina, Pharbitis, Porana, Quamoclit, 
Rhodoriza, Rivea, Shutereia, and S/cinneria. They are for the 
most part derived from the East Indies and South America: in 
the latter country they are most abundant, fringing the jungles 
and woody places with their twining stems, and imparting an 
indescribable charm with their brilliant though evanescent flowers, 
in the manner that our native species of Calystegia or bear-bind 
may be seen festooning the hedge-rows and wild spots of our 
island. 
Aniseia is a small genus of two species, calycina and salicifolidf 
19 
hi. 
