337 
-Calonyction Tuba-as Grown in Florida 
A rambling vine growing to twenty or 
thirty feet each season. Twining and ramb- 
ling on fences the vine is of pencil size. The 
flower is purple. It thrives in sandy soils 
and in full sun. 
Growing from tuba, the vine throws alt- 
ernate leaves of two distinct shapes, the 
first being true heart-shaped which persists 
from vine tip all thru the growing period. 
Following this primaty heart-shaped leaf, is 
the true character leaf, being distinctly 
three lobed, deeply veined and rough sur- 
face. 
Flowers in August 
The flower shoots out from the vine on 
a small green stem at the leaf axels and 
terminates into the bud which eventually 
assumes the size and shape of an acorn, of 
a rich green color. 
In August (Fla) and September the blos- 
soms burst out in all their glory in the form 
of a beautiful and graceful trumpet about 
three and one half inches long and the flar- 
ing bell about three inches wide. The base 
of the trumpet is of a rich wine purple color 
which gradually fades in the flowering bell 
to a delicate light pink tint. The deeper 
colored veins emerging from the throat 
spread over the bell in an attempt to seper- 
ate the blossom into five seperate petals. 
The edge of the blossom is twisted, curled 
and fluted and the téxture is as of very fine 
delicate silk. 
One of the most cooperative blossoms, it 
PAUL A. GIROUARD, Florida. 
gives advance notice of its performance. 
The bud unfolds a tightly curled pink form 
shaped like a cigar and from two to threa 
inches long, retaining this form from twelve 
to twenty-four hours before opening about 
five or six o’clock in the evening and per- 
fuming the air with a faint exquisite scent. 
The Flower Shape 
The blossom remains open well after mid- 
night, hence its name which in Greek means, 
Night Beauty, but next morning the blossom 
bell is folded inward as a tightly closed fist, 
hanging from the bud by a slender thread,. 
The tuba is shaped somewhat like a tur- 
nip with a deep tap root and varies in size 
from one inch in diameter to four or five 
inches. Roughly, the tuba adds to its dia- 
meter about one inch each year. In Florida 
they are left in place from year to year but 
in colder sections it is best to remove and 
protect them in winter. Six year old tubers 
waiting to be transplanted are laying on top 
of the ground in the sun and rain and thirty 
degrees cold, uninjured. They are six inches 
in diameter. 
The seed pod is of a brown chestnut color, 
size and shape of an acorn and holds four 
jet black seeds, each well imbedded in silk 
floss. 
Each seed produces a small vine about 12 
inches long with small two-lobed leaves re- 
sembling dutchman’s breeches, up-side-down. 
The resulting first year tube is about two 
inches long and of pencil diameter and 
snow white in color. These are left undis- 
turbed for two years and then given more 
room in transplanting. 
Anyone wishing to enjoy this beautiful 
flower must first be assured that they must 
earn that pleasure for the leaves are devour- 
ed by very small caterpillers, appearing in 
very large numbers in the summer and if 
these are neglected for two days they will 
grow rapidly in size and defoliate the entire 
vine. We go about every morning with a 
gallon can, its bottom covered with kerosene 
and gather these small caterpillars when 
they are very small, they are easily seen for 
they feed on the green leaves and the re- 
sulting leaf is like fine lace; we pinch this 
leaf off and the kerosene in the bottom of 
the can does the rest. 
When full grown, these caterpillars are 
about an inch long, are yellow in color, 
with a black band along the back. 
Care Required in Growing 
I have seen this vine (an escape) in fields 
and in woods in Florida but seldom if ever a 
blossom due to the voracious appetite of 
these caterpillars. 
The blossom is so exceptional, so sweet 
and of so great beauty that I gladly collect 
its enemies daily and enjoy the flowers. By 
some it is called Ipomoea setosa, to which 
it is related but differs in slight botanical 
characteristics. 
Cultivation of South African Proteaceae 
“*Ail the members of the South African 
Proteaceae are evergreens, usually with en- 
tire, leathery and often hairy, leaves, and 
in horticulture they fall into a class termed 
‘hard-wooded’. They usually take the form 
of shrubs or shrublets but include tree size 
such as Leucadendron argenteum (Silver 
Tree) and Faurea spp. (notably F. mac- 
naughtonii, a fine evergreen, forest tree). 
They rank as some of the finest indigenous 
plants of South Africa, and some can bed 
regarded as among the most highly orna- 
mental shrubs in the world. 
The family is, of course, one of the most 
conspicuous features of the south-western, 
winter rainfall, flora of South Africa, where 
the greatest number of species, as well as 
the showiest, are found, with comparative- 
ly few representatives in other parts -- sum- 
rainfall. 
In recent years it has been demonstrated 
that the successful cultivation of this family 
in various parts of South Africa, outside their 
respective natural habitats, makes them no 
longer such ‘difficult’ plants as has hitherto 
been the popular notion. Likewise in Aust- 
ralia, New Zealand, parts of the United 
States, such as California, as well as count- 
ries with comparable conditions, success 
has been achieved. 
The National Botanic Gardens of South 
Africa, have been largely instrumental, in 
dissemination of seeds and information, in 
bringing into cultivation these beautiful and 
unique plants. 
The information supplied in this article 
is based on the investigations and practical 
results over a number of years of work by 
these gardens in propagational and cultural 
methods. Slight adjustments in methods 
to suit any particular local conditions else- 
where could easily be made. — 
By H. F. WERNER, South Africa 
The following interesting article appear- 
ed in the Journal of the Botanical Soc- 
iety of South Africa and it will give some 
interesting and valuable information on 
these plants of which there is little inform- 
ation given in North American publicai- 
ions. 
Leucospermum 
In dealing with the ornamental value of 
the Proteaceae as garden plants we must 
give pride of place to the genus Leucosper- 
mum, (Pincushions). Two beautiful species 
are L. bolusii, (5 ft, widely spreading) and 
L. nutans (5 ft, widely spreading); their 
lowest branches sweep the ground and the 
plants are symmetrical mounds of flower 
heads about mid-wintter until the summer. 
The flower heads yellow, golden or reddish 
in the former species, and reddish in the lat- 
ter are circular and consist of a close cush- 
ion of recurving or rolled florets with pro- 
truding styles giving the typical pincushion' 
effect. 
The above colors are the predominant 
ones in the genus, but there is a fairly wide 
range of variation according to species. A- 
mong other showy species with flower heads 
resembling more or less the above species 
are L. attenuatum (5 ft).), L. catherinae (4 
ft.), L. grandiflorum (5-6 ft. erect), L. in- 
cisum (5 ft.), L. lineare (4 ft. with needle-like 
leaves), L. praemorsum (6 ft., erect). 
In a class of its own is the magnificent 
L. reflexum (10-12 ft.) with silvery grey leaves 
and large orange-scarlet heads which have 
the further unique features in the changing 
of position of the styles as they age. This 
species makes a fine upright, well-branched 
bush, with great numbers of heads open at 
one time; they are borne on long straight 
stems, appearing early in winter and con- 
tinuing into the summer. 
Another gem is the comparatively dwarf 
L. tottum (3-4 ft.) with masses of pinkish 
buff heads on symmetrical bushes, branched 
to the ground level. Somewhat later bloom- 
ing than most others. 
Species with smallish heads include L. 
album (4 ft.) with numerous heads in clust- 
ers, opening white and turning to pale pink, 
scented: L. crinitum (4 ft.) and L. muirit 
(4-5 ft.). 
Of prostratte species L. prostratum is 
superb for draping low walls; it bears num- 
erous small golden flower heads, later be- 
coming crimson, also scented. Also useful 
in this -class is L. stenathum. 
The Leucospermums, as cut flowers, have 
exceptional lasting qualities, packing and 
travelling in perfect condition. The flow- 
ering season of the genus extends from 
winter until well into the summer months. 
Protea 
The genus Protea is characterized by the 
conspicuous involucre of scales (usually very 
colorful and often adorned by means of a 
beard at the tips) which surround the head 
of the flowers. The predominant color 
range in this genus is pink, with occasional, 
albinos; other colors are reds and, more 
rarely, greens. 
As a ‘national emblem’ of South Africa, the 
Protea is, perhaps, too well known to re- 
quire a detailed description; and space only 
permits mention of some of the most note- 
worthy species in this large and diverse 
genus. 
Outstanding is P. cynaroides (giant or 
King Protea) with immense hemispherical 
heads, often nearly 1 foot across, which, 
vary from silvery pink to deep rose or 
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