Abrus precatorius, Crab's Eye Vine. A delicate vine with pinnate leaves, inconspicuous flowers and pods of scarlet beans, each with a black eye. It is believed to be a native of the East Indies and Tenison-Woods says that it grows in Malaysia just inside of the mangroves; as it is found in the tropics around the world it is probable that the seeds have been distributed by the sea. The leaves are rich in licorice and are fine to eat but it is claimed that the seeds are poisonous. When once established on a place it spreads rapidly by means of its seeds.

Agdestes Clematidea

Agdestes Clematidea is a tender climbing herbaceous plant from Mexico with soft, cordate leaves and lovely panicles of small, pure white flowers in summer and fall. The young shoots hang down and over them the leaves are beautifully imbricated, making a handsome plant when not in flower; but when it is in full bloom it is simply superb. The tuberous roots sometimes attain a diameter of two feet and with the whole of the plant are ill-smelling.

Allamanda

These beautiful shrubs are among the queens of the flower garden and the finest is A. hendersoni. If given a good place and well fed it is a rampant grower and is covered most of the year with its large, trumpet-shaped, golden yellow blossoms. I have a vine growing over my porch; the tree frogs make their homes in its great flower tubes and the dear little creatures always notify me when they expect rain, though sometimes they seem to be mistaken. A. cathartica has rather small obovate leaves, the flowers marked with white in the throat; A. schotti is a strong grower. A. violacea is a fine plant with violet-tinted flowers of which excellent specimens are growing at Fort Myers. All except the last have yellow blossoms and all are sprawlers and may be made to grow as shrubs. A. wil-liamsi is a half climber and is very floriferous. All are a little tender but might be grown well up the state if a mound of earth were banked around their stems every winter.

Ampelopsis Veitchi

Ampelopsis Veitchi has failed with me, probably on account of the limy soil. It should be hardy over the whole state.

Antigonon Leptopus, Mountain Rose

Probably there is no more intense pink color anywhere in nature than in the flowers of this Mexican vine. It has hastate leaves, climbs by tendrils, and the flowers in compound spikes are produced through the whole year. Many years ago I was in Port au Prince, Haiti, and seeing for the first time this glorious vine, which grew in great magnificence, I was anxious to know its name. I became acquainted with a merchant who seemed desirous of serving me and he said he could tell me the names of any trees or plants I wanted to know. So I took him to where a fine specimen of this was in full bloom and asked him what it was. He struck an attitude, threw up both hands and exclaimed "O that iss a flow-wer".

Argyreia

A genus of handsome vines closely related to Ipo-moea. J. tiliaefolia has large, heart-shaped leaves that are silvery silky beneath, and attractive rosy purple flowers. In A. cymosa the leaves are smaller and not silvery below. They are of easy culture if well fertilized.

Aristolochia, Birthwort

Many species in temperate to tropical countries, the flowers very odd, with curved, often inflated, sometimes U-shaped tubes. In A. grandiflora the outline of the flower is something like that of a bird; the face of the corolla is variegated with lurid purple and it has a long, twisted tail. It emits a terrible odor which probably attracts insects that crawl down its throat and cannot get out on account of reversed hairs in it. There are one or two others occasionally cultivated here, all probably natives of tropical forests, which should have rich soil and shelter. A. sipho is a hardy species which would probably do well in the northern part of the state.

Bauhinia Vahli

Bauhinia Vahli is a giant vine with immense cloven leaves, the Malu of the lower Himalaya region. It runs for immense distances among and over the trees in the forest and has great clusters of white flowers. I have a young vine which is doing well.

Beaumontia Grandiflora

Beaumontia Grandiflora is a superb vine with large, white fragrant flowers, which has been successfully cultivated as far north as Tampa. Reasoner says that it is grand at Oneco. It is related to the oleander.

Bignonia

A genus of vines containing some of our finest garden ornaments. B. capreolata and var. atrosanguinea are hardy all over the state; B. tweediana is a delicate vine with yellow flowers, which clings by adventive roots and is quite hardy; B. speciosa is a grand vine with glossy, dark leaves and great clusters of large, purplish flowers, also somewhat hardy; B. argyreo-violescens has its leaves elegantly variegated with purple; B. buccinatoria from Mexico has evergreen leaves and flowers over two inches across and four in length, of a rich blood color; B. venusta bears immense clusters of fiery orange, long-tubed flowers in late winter and spring, one of the finest garden ornaments of lower Florida.

Bougainvillea

Sprawling vines with simple leaves and inconspicuous flowers, each subtended by a brilliant bract; when in bloom they are among the most gorgeous plants in cultivation. B. glabra and var. sanderiana are commonly cultivated and are much used at the north. B. spectabilis is a stronger grower; both have dazzlingly purple bracts. B. lateritia may be only a variety of the latter: it has brick-red bracts. The two former are grown from half hardened cuttings or layers but the latter is difficult to propagate. There are those who disclaim against these gorgeous colors but nature has made them and on occasion uses them lavishly and I confess I am barbarian enough to admire them.