Clianthus
(from kleios, glory, and anthos, a flower; referring to the handsome flowers). Glory Pea; Glory Vine; Parrot Beak. ORD. Leguminosoe. A genus containing a couple of species, one of which is a half-hardy evergreen, tall growing, climbing shrub, and the other an herbaceous perennial. Flowers brilliantly coloured, large, about 2in. long, in short pendulous axillary racemes; petals acuminate; standard or vexillum reflexed. Leaves impari-pinnate; leaflets small, numerous, oblong; stipules foliaceous, adnate, permanent. These plants, with truly gorgeously-coloured flowers, were, at one time, extensively cultivated in the greenhouse; but, from their great liability to the attacks of red spider, and the difficulty often found in cultivating one of the species--C. Dampieri--they have now become somewhat neglected. Spider may be kept down considerably by syringing with clean water daily throughout the growing season. Scale sometimes attacks the plants, but careful hand-picking, and sponging with Fowler's Insecticide, prevent these doing much injury. Loamy soil, with a little leaf soil and charcoal added, is most suitable for Clianthus. It should not be sifted, but broken up by hand, and pressed firmly in the pots. After potting, the plants should be placed in a pit with other hard-wooded subjects, and kept close for a few weeks, being syringed daily. C. Dampieri is a very fastidious subject in a young state, as injury to the roots invariably causes the death of the plants. When allowing more root room, the plan is sometimes adopted of knocking the bottom out of the old pot, and placing the ball with the remainder in the new soil. Training must be regularly attended to, in order to keep the bases of the plants well furnished, as the wood, when old, is very liable to break off. If it is desirable to keep the plants in pots, they can be either trained out on sticks or a trellis, or on pillars or walls, for which purpose they are well adapted. Thorough drainage must be insured when planting out, and the compost may be the same as for potting, a depth of about 18in. being sufficient. Abundance of water must be given at the roots, and the syringe freely used. When grown in pots, the plants will require shifting annually during March or April, previous to which all the laterals should be pruned hard back, and the leading shoots also shortened. The same treatment as regards pruning applies to those planted out. Cuttings of C. puniceus strike easily in sand, on bottom heat. When established, this species grows vigorously, and forms a fine subject for a rafter in the conservatory, or for pot culture. C. Dampieri is best raised from seeds, which should be sown singly, in good-sized pots, when the necessity of first shifting will be obviated. Pots 5in. in diameter are none too large; and if the seeds are sown in these, late in summer, the plants may remain until the following spring, when they should be potted on, without disturbing the roots in any way, into the full size in which they are to flower. C. puniceus especially, and sometimes C. Dampieri, will grow well out of doors in the south-western counties, when trained against a wall; but sufficient protection should always be given during the winter to prevent injury from frost. In Ireland, their hardihood is substantially the same. C. carneus (flesh-coloured). See Streblorhiza carnea. C. Dampieri (Dampier's).* Glory Pea. fl. red, with a black or dark purple blotch at the base of the standard, 4in. or 5in. across when expanded, five or six together; racemes drooping. March. l. neatly winged, silvery-grey, villous. h. 2ft. North and South Australia and New South Wales, 1852. Herbaceous perennial. When planting this outside, a hot, dry, and sunny position under a south wall should be selected, and the plant should be kept as dry as possible. (B. M. 5051.) C. D. marginata is the best of several varieties now in cultivation; in this form, the ground is white, bordered with red, and the spot black. 1866.
C. puniceus (reddish).* Parrot's Bill. fl. scarlet, very freely produced; keel large, boat-shaped, with a long beak. May. l., leaflets alternate, oblong, retuse, coriaceous. Plant branched, shrubby, clothed with appressed silky hairs. h. 3ft. New Zealand, 1832. Half-hardy climber. This has not yet been discovered in a truly wild state, but it is a favourite with the Maories, who grow it near their habitations. (B. M. 3684.) C. magnificus is a strong-growing variety of this species.