TJie Country Gentleman s Magazine 



205 



^ke ©ariien. 



HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



AC^NA NOVA-ZEALANDICA.— A 

 most interesting and pretty alpine, 

 forming dense dwarf tufts, and curious crim- 

 son flowers, which appear in late spring and 

 early autumn. The other species of this 

 genus are in no way specially interesting. 



Aconitiim (Monkshood, or Wolf's-bane). — 

 These are very hardy herbaceeus perennials, 

 mostly tall growers, with beautiful flowers, all 

 more or less poisonous, consequently should 

 be admitted with caution. 



A. lycoctonum. — Grows about 3 feet high, 

 with small spikes, bearing a few narrow yellow 

 flowers. This species is of alpine origin, and 

 may be used as a rock plant, in?which position 

 the growth would naturally be much shorter. 

 The leaves are broader than in most of the 

 other species, cut half way dovm into three 

 lobes, doubly trifid, side ones deeply two- 

 parted ; flowers July and August. 



A. Napellus. — This species has simple 

 tuberous roots, the properties of which are 

 extremely poisonous ; stem strong, erect, 3 

 feet high, terminated by a dense cylindrical 

 spike of dark blue flowers ; the leaves are 

 deep green, shining, divided to the petiole. 

 The white, blue and white, and purple varie- 

 ties of this species are amongst those most 

 recommended for the mixed border, and are 

 usually in flower in July. 



A. pyrenaiciim, with large palmate leaves ; 

 A. Canunariirn with blue flowers, shaded 

 purple ; A. harhahan, the dwarf blue ; and 

 A. aidiunnale, as a late blooming kind, 

 will be sufficient for most collections. All 

 the sorts are easily increased by division of 

 the root, or by seeds, which should be sown 

 in autumn. If sown in spring they generally 

 lie dormant until the spring following. Most 

 of them prefer a shady border. Such-like 

 plants succeed better in a shrubbery. 



Adcea sfiicata (Baneberry). — A rare native 

 perennial plant, sometimes seen in cottage 

 gardens in the north of England, but is liable 

 to die out unless the soil is moist and the 

 situation shady ; the flowers are pure white, 

 and succeeded in the autumn by dark brown 

 berries, about the size of Peas. These are 

 said to possess some poisonous properties. 

 A useful plant for the shrubbery, or any shady 

 damp corner where few other plants will 

 grow. 



A. racemosa; syn, A. anicricana (Black 

 Snake-root). — This species and its varieties 

 alba and rubra are also interesting plants, 

 natives of North America, are quite hardy, 

 and flower freely in this country, but do 

 not perfect their fruit. The root of this plant 

 is used in North America as an antidote 

 against the poisonous bite of the rattlesnake, 

 &c. 



Adenophora. — A sub-genus from Campanu- 

 la ; hardy perennials, chiefly natives ot 

 Siberia, fine rock or border plants, with blue 

 flowers. The following are a selection — A. 

 masupiflora, stylosa, communis, latifolia, 

 reticulata, and suaveolens, are increased ra- 

 pidly either by seed, cuttings, or division. 



Adonis vernaiis. — A beautiful spring flower- 

 ing rock plant, with large yellow flowers, 

 from southern Europe, nearly allied to the 

 Ranunculus ; grows freely in almost any soil 

 or situation, increased by division of the root; 

 seedlings of this plant make very slow 

 progress. 



yEgopodiiun Podagraria. — This is a native 

 plant, called Ash-weed in some parts of Eng- 

 land; very interesting, the umbels having 

 fourteen rays ; would grow at the back of a 

 rockery, under trees, or in other shady situa- 

 tions where few other strong perennials would 

 grow; spreads fast when once established 



