size, those on the upper side broadest, and not so slenderly
unguiculate. Stamens 8; Jilaments smooth, unequal in
length, thickish, but becoming very slender abruptly at the
point, attached to the base of the anthers: anthers two-lobed.
Ovarium smooth, 3-lobed. Style erect, 3-striate,
shorter than the filaments, terminated in 3 acute, unequal
Stigmas, one of which is more than double the size of the
others. Seeds 3, sometimes 1 or 2 of them abortive, inclosed
in the persistent calyx.
This very elegant climbing plant, which is certainly one
of the most beautiful and interesting that has been introduced
to this country for some time, has been in flower
ever since June last, at the Garden belonging to the Apothecaries’
Company at Chelsea, and will continue to bloom
till killed down by frost, being now about 10 feet high,
and covered with flowers from the bottom to the top, which
makes a very gay and lively appearance: some roots of the
present, and another species, were presented to Mr. Anderson,
by Miss Oriana Georgiana Reinagle, who received
them from Miss White, daughter to the Vico Consul at
Valparaiso, who observes, “ Our Virandas are covered with
many sorts of such creepers.” The roots were tuberous,
those of the present species were oblong, and the other species
that has not flowered were flat, not unlike a Cyclamen
root; they left Valparaiso in October, 1827, and were
planted in the Botanic Garden at Chelsea, in March, 1828.
Those planted in pots, and placed in the Hothouse, did no
good, but drew up very weak, and soon dwindled away ;
but the others that were planted by the side of a wall in the
Garden succeeded very well, grew very luxuriantly, and
have ripened abundance of seeds. A light sandy soil suits
them best, and the roots should be taken up as soon as the
frost injures the stems, when they may be kept in a dry
place, out of the reach of frost, in a little dry earth or sand
till the following March or April, when they should be planted
from 4 to 6 inches deep, according to the size of the
roots. The seeds should be planted in April or May, if in
the open ground, or earlier if sown in pots in the Greenhouse
or Stove. We have no doubt but young cuttings,
planted under hand-glasses in Spring, would also strike
root, and make tubers by Autumn.
The generic name is derived from the form of the leaves,
which resemble a trophy or shield, most prominent in
T. majus.
1. Calyx spread open, showing the 5 segments. 2. The 5 Petals, alternate
with the segments o f the calyx. 3. Spur. 4. Footstalk o f the Flower. 6. The
8 Stamens. C. Ovarinm, terminated by the Style and three unequal Stigmas.