1989 



* SILENE chloi-ffifolia. 

 Arynenian Catchfly. 



DECANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 



Nat. ord. SlLENACE^. 



SILENE. Suprd, vol. 2. fol. 247. 



S. chlorcefolia ; glaberrima glutinosa glauca, caulibus ramosis, foliis subrotundis 

 acuminatis superioribus subcordatis, floribus solitariis axillaribus termlnali- 

 busque, calvcibus clavatis estriatis, petalis coriaceis rotundatis bilobis dorso 

 discoloribus, appendicibus bilobis caiuosis acutis. 



S. cblorEefoiia. Smith ic. ined. \. t. 13. Bot. may. t. S07. De Cand.prodr. 

 1. 1381. 



There is not a hardy plant in our gardens that is less 

 treated according to its merits than this Silene chloraefolia. 

 It is one of the neatest of all herbaceous plants in its broad, 

 trim, firm, well-coloured leaves, and its compact manner of 

 growth ; the flowers are of the purest and brightest white, 

 and are deliciously fragrant ; it is quite hardy, if not exposed 

 to a wet soil in winter, is easily increased both by seeds and 

 cuttings, and thrives equally whether grown as a rock plant 

 or in the common flower border. Yet we hardly ever see 

 it in the gardens. It has every good quality that a garden 

 flower should have, and so far as I know, not a single defect, 

 and nevertheless it is scarcely thought of or heard of. May 

 I hope that this notice will gain for it that attention which 

 it so eminently deserves. 



When grown upon rock-work, its flowers are only about 

 half the size they acquire in a deep rich light soil ; the ac- 

 companying figure was taken from a plant in the former 

 situation in the garden of the Society of Apothecaries at 

 Chelsea. 



It was found in Armenia by Tournefort, and was intro- 

 duced so long since as 1796, by Mr. Hunneman. 



* See folio 1444. 



