1869.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 495 



S. montana is closely allied to S. alpina ; the leaves are similar in 

 form but larger, and the flowers are more numerous in the umbel, less 

 deeply fringed, and paler purple. Flowers in April and May. Found 

 in moist open woods at high elevations on the mountains of Austria 

 and Bohemia. Ver}' sandy peat and loam, the peat predominating. 



S. minima is perhaps the prettiest, as it is also one of the least, of 

 the group. The leaves are very small, and nearly round or kidney- 

 shaped. The flower-stalks are erect but slender, bearing usually only 

 one comparatively large flower, whitish, and veined on the inner sur- 

 face with pale purple, the fringe not deep. Flowers in April and May. 

 Mountains of Switzerland, Styria, and Carniola. Same soil as for the 

 two preceding sj)ecies. 



S. 2')usiUa is very beautiful, but rather rare. It is in the way of S. 

 minima ; the flowers, however, are bright blue, and I have met with an 

 almost copper-coloured variety that is interesting. From the Alps of 

 Sv/itzerland. Flowers in April and May. Sandy peat and loam, the 

 peat predominating. 



Dodecatheon — ' American Cowslip ' — is a small group of pretty well 

 known and much-admired hardy border plants. They are of simple 

 accommodating nature, doing well in most soils and situations, but 

 reach the greatest perfection in deep moist rich loam and in partial 

 shade. Propagate by division in early spring, or by seeds, which they 

 produce freely. 



D. Meadia is the best-known species. The leaves are all radical, 

 stalkless, oblong lanceolate, thin and soft in texture, and pale green, ob- 

 scurely toothed, dying off shortly after flowering. The flower-stems are 

 a foot or more high, bearing a considerable umbel of elegant drooping 

 flowers of interesting shape. The flowers are rosy-purple, and divid- 

 ed into flve broad much-reflexed segments. Flowers in April, May, 

 and June, and in the north often blooming well through July. 

 There are several varieties of this species of greater or less distinctness, 

 which are often vended as species. The best of them are, D. M. ele- 

 gans, syn. giganteum, remarkable for greater luxuriance in all its parts, 

 and rather more delicate colouring; D. M. album, with white flowers 

 suffused with rose ; and D. M. lilacinum, with rosy-lilac flowers. 



D. integrifolium has oblong leaves destitute of teeth. The flower- 

 stems are from 6 to 12 inches high. The inflorescence is the same as 

 in D. meadia, but the divisions of the corolla are more acute, and the 

 colour is rosy-crimson. Flowers April, May, and June. W. S. 



ffi->^^^l6--M5 



