“Lady of the Night,” cestrum nocturnum, of the monogynia order, and pentandria class of plants, one of the sweetest and most poetical of all the Antiguan flowering shrubs. The flowers are of a delicate white, and elegantly shaped. As the day draws to a close, they unfold their lovely petals, which emit the most delicious odour, and that so powerful, that a single flower will perfume an entire suite of apartments. It is not “labour lost” to sit up until midnight, to watch the unfolding of this darling child of Flora’s in all her glory; for, in the words of the poet,
“Her beauty hangs upon the cheek of night,
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear.”
The Flower Fence, or Barbados pride, poinciana pulcherrima, is a very beautiful aculeated shrub, of the order monogynia; the flowers, of a bright red and yellow, are papilionaceous; the pistilum is long, and the stamens numerous; the seeds are oblong and glossy, and when beaten up with borax and water are said to form an excellent cement. There are two species, the red and the yellow, each equally admired, and which form a most beautiful garden fence, from whence the name. The leaves of the shrub are supposed to contain some medicinal qualities, and are consequently much esteemed by “old women.”
Trumpet Flower, bignonia unguis, is a genus of the angiospermia order, class didynamia; the calyx is quinquefid, the corolla of an elegant bell-shape, and is also quinquefoliated. It is one of the most glowing beauties of the West Indian florist’s world. By some it is called the scarlet jessamin, from its colour.
The Noyeau-vine, convolvulus dissectus, belongs to the order monogynia, class pentandria; the flower is campiform, but expands beneath the influence of the light into the figure of a star. The petals are of a delicate pearly white, the lower parts of a deep purple, the leaves of a deep green; and the seeds, black and very hard, are contained in a three-celled capsule. Noyeau is said to be extracted from this plant, from whence its name; but setting aside this doubtful good quality, it is one of the most admired parasites Antigua produces, and forms a great ornament to a verandah or balcony.
Among the other beautiful vines to be met with, are the passiflora tribe; they are—
1st. The Granadilla, passiflora quadrangularis.
2nd. The Water Lemon, passiflora maliformis, and
3rd. The Conch Nut, passiflora maliformis.
The granadilla bears a large, oblong fruit, with a thick, fleshy covering, and containing a most delicious pulpy consistence, of a slightly-acid flavour, with numerous flat seeds.