Familiar Indian Flowers: with Coloured Plates/Tecoma Jasminoides

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GRACEFUL as all the Indian climbers are, it would perhaps be difficult to find any which are more so than the two now before us, the foliage, growth, and lovely flowers all tending to captivate the eye and please the senses.

The glossy light foliage which distinguishes all the Tecoma plants is worthy of notice, and the subjects of our illustration are no exception to the rule.

There are six varieties, two of which are either stunted trees or scandent shrubs, whilst those given in the present plate are unquestionably climbers. “Tecoma Jasminoides,” the white variety, is a lovely object with its corymbs of white flowers and deep pink centre; the delicate flowers hang in loose bunches, and droop amongst the shining wax-like foliage.

The foliage, as its name implies, is very like that of a jasmine, consisting of five or seven leaflets, growing in pairs on a thin, green stalk.

“Tecoma Velutina," the primrose-coloured variety, is equally beautiful, except perhaps that the leaves are not quite so graceful.

These flowers are funnel-shaped, of a pale, delicate, primrose colour; they fade very quickly.

The stamens, which grow quite at the back of the flower, have a singular appearance, and, when seen through its semi-transparent tube, look like a spider or some flat insect therein imbedded.

The leaves of this variety are lanceolate and vary from two to five inches in length, serrated at the edges. “Tecoma Radicans” is, perhaps, the commonest variety of these shrubs; it is a sprawling bush with pretty delicate foliage, and bright orange scarlet flowers of a tube-like shape.

The propagation of this variety is more easily accomplished, as it takes root wherever the branches touch the ground.

I am not aware of these plants being mentioned in any botanical book as useful, either medicinally or for other purposes.

To be seen to advantage these plants should be trained to hang over a trellis-work, so that the handsome heads of blossom may be allowed to droop gracefully, whilst the pretty foliage soon covers the ugly wooden frame.

The orange variety spreads rapidly, and requires to be more constantly pruned than the climbers, to prevent it from straggling and choking other plants. In a bouquet the foliage of these plants looks very pretty, but the flowers soon wither when cut. ​