JUNE. 173 



state. When the leaves have died down to the pot, cultivation 

 may be said to cease. The pots should now be placed in a cool 

 shady fi*ame for the summer, merely protecting them from very 

 heavy rains, but in other respects exposing them. If the culture 

 has been successful, they will commence throwing up their flower 

 stems early in the autumn, when they may be removed to the green- 

 house, or, in fact, any situation where the blooms can be protected from 

 wet, and where their beauty can be seen to advantage. 



THE GENUS EPIMEDIUM. 

 It should be the object of all who cultivate hardy herbaceous plants to 

 select as many of the early spring flowering kinds as can consistently be 

 done with moderate means ; the variety of such is rather limited, and 

 therefore any addition towards forming a collection is a point which 

 obviously may be regarded as absolutely essential. Throughout the 

 summer there is an abundant supply, but in early spring and late in 

 autumn the number is very limited. Amongst those flowering at an early 

 season are several species of Epimedium, which are all dwarf growing 

 herbs, well adapted for small beds or borders ; they have a very pleasing 

 habit, with a neat foliage, and can be cultivated with the greatest facility 

 in any hght garden soil : some of them bear very pretty flowers, others 

 are inconspicuous, but, on account of their early spring flowering and 

 peculiar neat foliage, are interesting, and deserve a fair share of atten- 

 tion. The following hardy species are in cultivation at Kew : — 



Epimedium pimiatiim. — One of the best of the genus, attaining the 

 height of nine inches ; the leaves are pinnate, hairy, and cordate ; the 

 flower stalk arises from the base of the plant, bearing on its apex an 

 erect raceme, five inches long, of very bright yellow flowers. 



Epimedium Musschimium. — This species grows about a foot hifrh ; 

 has a stem-leaf biternate, with leaflets cordate and hairy beneath ; scape 

 two or three inches long, springing from the swollen part of the stem, 

 and bearing a small raceme of Q—S flowers of a yellowish white. 



Epimedium grandijiorum. — A beautiful flowering species, growing 

 from six to nine inches high ; stem-leaf biternate ; leaflets cordate and 

 slightly hairy beneath ; scape 2 — 3 inches long, springing from 

 the swollen part of the stem, and bearing a small panicle of large 

 light-coloured flowers, tinged with purple. This species is kno^vn as 

 E. macranthum in gardens. 



Epimedium dipJn/Uum is an interesting little plant, growing about six 

 inches high, having twin leaves and white flowers. 



Epimedium alpinum. — Avery pretty flowering species, attaining the 

 height of about ten inches, having a stem-leaf biternate, with very 

 delicate cordate leaflets, and a scape springing from the swollen part 

 of the middle of the stem, bearing a panicle of bright reddish and 

 yellow coloured flowers. This species is indigenous to Britain. 



Royal Botanic Garden^ Kew. J. HouLSTON. 



