The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-06-08

three centuries the gardens of
England have been inspired
clearing ccnters for beloved
flowers. such as the WharVeS,
shops, candy counters and res
taurantS of England have served
as world clearing centers of
spices. chocolate. coffee. ban
anaS dyes. coconutS, caSheW
and many other distinguished
products of Middle America We
are obliged eternally 10 the gar
dcnS and the shops of England
for having directed or dispatch
cd so many aesthetic riches 10
our homes But as B. Y Morri-
son, head of the u. s Depart
mcnt Of Agriculture Division of
Plant Exploration and introduce
ton points out. praise and
thanks are likewise due the
American tropics for having be-
gotten so many Of our bestowed
flowers.
According to Mr. Morrison 5
studies the pctunia was first in
PRODUCED to the British Isles
from Plata Basin in 1880 by
MIR. TWecdv of Buenos Ares
who according TO Curtis Botani-
ca Magazine of that year, gath
cred the specimens along the
basin of the Rio Negro.
Scarlet Sage was introduced
in England from Brazil and per-
haps from Central America dur,
ing 1922 First paintings We're
made in hothouSes Of the Ham
mcrSmith Nursery near London.
The brilliant red flowers mater
ialiled i'm the hothouscS and n
Que time became adapted to OPP
en- gardens. Scarlet sage still
grows wild in great areas Of the
American tropics.
The orchid is an own grs-
ciouS daughter Of Middle Amer
lea which has declined most IN
vitations 10 ornament temper
ate zone gardens But the bril-
liantt+ Towering SchizanthuS.
resembling orchids IN shape and
color. arc also native 10 areas OF
Middle America They have
come TO us via England from
both Peru and Panama
NASTURTIUM
The first English mention OF
the naSturtium appeared in Cur
It's Botanical Magazine of Lon
don of 1887 just as the Ameri-
can Revolution was closing.
The first of the naSturtium inn
migrants was probably from
Peru. II was described as YER
million red in color. During the
years between 1910 and 1880
the nasturtium became adapted
70 climates and soils of Eng
land and the United States and
became enormously popular.
The same is generally true of the
common portulaca, which was
brought to England directly
from lower Brazil by DR.. Gill
lies who noted i'm the Botanical
Magazine that he had discovered
tho bizarre bloSsomer near the
Mendoza mountains, where the
flowers colored the whole coun-
trySide with rich purple here
and there marked with spots Of
an orange colour
Many other species Of portu-
lacas grow in Middle America.
Four-o'clocks were first named
"Marvel-of- Peru In 1897 Cur
It's Botanical Magazine noted
tersely From Peru, its original
place Of growth, this plant was
introduced 70 Europe at a very
early date; the names II bore on
lis introduction sufficiently testi-
fics the admiration in which It
was held y
The native habitat of this fav-
orite flower includes many areas
north Of Peru. not excepting the
lush hot Panama jungles. Yer
benas, though definitely mongrel
in terms Of existing species are
known 10 be native 10 the AM
erican tropics The same is true
OF lady S-Slipper, a common
name designating the calceolar-
las family OF Towering ANIMALS
which are also indigenous TO
Middle America.
MEXICO DONATES
Both zinnias and cosmos. two
OF the best loved OF all common
garden flowers, are natives OF
Mexico. and for the most part
they, too, came to us by way of
England. Zinnias, in particular,
were widely cultivated by Mid
die American Indians during the
early colonization periods.
The indigenous flower life Of
tho American tropics from Mex