256 THE GARDENER. [June 



Lysimachia. — This is a useful, sliowy, and free- flowering group of 

 plants. For a small family there is considerable diversity of habit 

 in the members comprised in it, but there is little variety of colour, 

 yellow in various shades being the predominating hue. L. num- 

 mularia is one of the prettiest and most interesting. It is a dwarfy 

 prostrate plant, throwing many branches out in all directions from 

 the centre, which in moist situations root at the joints and so spread 

 many feet. The flowers are yellow and appear in June, and last on 

 till September and October if occasionally pinched in to induce fresh 

 growth. It is useful for a variety of purposes — for clothing rock-work, 

 moist banks, front lines in mixed beds and borders, and for festooning 

 the margins of rustic vases where such ornaments may with propriety 

 of taste be introduced into flower-gardens. Native of Britain and 

 Europe generally. A variety with yellow leaves or yellow variegated 

 leaves, recently introduced, is of considerable value, and will, when 

 more generally known, become a favourite in the flower-garden of 

 any style. 



L. vulgaris, like the last-named species, is a native of Britain, and 

 Europe generally, appearing also in many parts of Asia and in Aus- 

 tralia. It rises erect to the height of 2 or 3 feet, with branching stems 

 terminating in loose leafy panicles of yellow flowers, which appear in 

 July, August, and September. It is not at all a choice-looking plant, 

 but it is valuable for introducing into moist open woods, and for plant- 

 ing on the banks of ponds and streams where the natural vegetation 

 stands in need of improvement, and for lighting up masses of shrubs. 

 It succeeds in any common soil, but delights most in partially shady 

 moist places. 



L. punctata, by some considered as a rather well-marked variety of 

 L. vulgaris, is for horticultural purposes not very distinct from that spe- 

 cies. It is found in some parts of England and Scotland along with 

 L. vulgaris, and in south-eastern Europe. The spotting implied in the 

 specific name is not of much value. 



L. thyrsiflora, native of Britain and other parts of Europe, of north- 

 ern Asia and America. It is similar in aspect to the preceding spe- 

 cies, but dwarfer, and with simple or unbranched erect stems. The 

 flowers are yellow in rather dense racemes, and appear in June, July, 

 and August. Useful for the same purposes as the preceding. 



L. angustifolia, from North America, is a very graceful species, grow- 

 ing to the height of a foot or eighteen inches, with terminal leafy pan- 

 icles of nodding pale yellow flowers. It is useful for the same purposes 

 as the two preceding species, and is well worth a place in the mixed 

 border. Like the others it delights in moisture, and is not fastidious 

 as to the quality of the soil. The flowers appear in June and July. 



