THE ABUTILON. 
THIS is a genus of annual or shrubby plants, mostly 
of an ornamontal character, inhabiting the West Indies, 
South America, Siberia and Piedmont. The difference 
of their geographical range is no less than that of their 
individual characters. Some of the species are mere 
red and yellow flowers, that are produced the entire 
winter. 
From these, and other species, the skillful hand of 
the hybridizer, has wrought some very beautiful varie¬ 
ties. In all respects there has been a marked improve- 
weeds, having no use in the economic 
arts, and destitute of beauty in leaf or 
flower, and are, withal, without fra¬ 
grance. The flowers of one species, A. 
^sculentum, are used as a vegetable in Brazil. A. indi- 
■cum and polyandrum, East Indian species, tall-growing 
shrubs, furnish fibre fit for the manufacture of rope. 
Some of the species are favorite garden plants, and 
well adapted for greenhouse or conservatory decoration. 
Conspicuous in this class is A. insigna, the subject of 
our illustration; this was for a Jong time popularly 
known as the Handsome-flowered Abutilon, to dis¬ 
tinguish it from the more common species. Its branches 
are clothed with (Jense down; the leaves are large, on 
long petioles, alternate, heart-shaped, somewhat three- 
lobed, and coarsely serrated, the veins strongly reticu¬ 
lated. The flowers are about two inches in diameter, 
and grow in axillary racemes of three to seven flow¬ 
ers; they are of a lively Rose color, with deep-colored 
veins. The ground color of the large petals is white, 
but that is almost entirely obliterated by the rich car¬ 
mine veining or reticulation both without and within, 
but brightest on the upper-side. A. striatum, native of 
Brazil, is a beautiful species, always in bloom, and 
valuable for its profusion of pendulous, veined, 
Abotilix Iksign'a 
ment on the species. The size of the flow¬ 
ers have been increased, the colors better 
defined, while the intermediate forms 
that have been produced have added 
greatly to the many attractions the Abutilon already 
possessed. At the present time the number of its 
varieties are as numerous as that of many of the so- 
called florist’s flowers, and embrace flowers that are 
self-colored, clear Rose, pure white and bright yellow, 
with almost every shade that those colors will produce. 
Some of these species have curiously-variegated leaves, 
the bright green, blotched with yellow, one of which 
A. vexillarium Marmoratum, is of a trailing habit, and 
useful as a basket plant. To flower the species well, 
they should not be grown in very rich soil, neither 
should they be allowed much pot room. The rampant 
growth of these plants must he kept in check by con¬ 
stant pruning, otherwise they will outgrow the most 
liberal space provided for them. As a plant for the 
shrubbery border, there is none that will succeed better, 
or make a more attractive appearance. A. Thompsoni, 
with its large beautifully-blotched. foliage, is particu¬ 
larly desirable for a bedding plant, its flowers are not 
particularly attractive, but its foliage will more than 
compensate their loss. 
