40 THE GARDENER. [Jan. 



G. pyrenaica — Pyrenean Gentiav. — This is one of the high alpine 

 species. It grows only a few inches high, with branching spreading 

 stems. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped. The flowers are deep 

 blue, divided into ten segments, each alternate one being smaller and 

 more angular than the principal or representative five. They appear 

 in June and July. Native of lofty stations on the Pyrenees. 



G. Sa:onaria — Soajnvort-Ieaved Gentian. — A good and accommo- 

 dating border plant, growing 1 or 2 feet high. The stems are ascending, 

 and clothed with broadly lance-shaped leaves. The flowers are stalkless, 

 in rather close heads at the extremities of the stems ; they are blue and 

 barrel-shaped, being almost closed at the mouth, which is cut into ten 

 nearly equal segments. They appear in August and September. 

 Native of N. America. This is one of the most easily cultivated 

 species, thriving in any ordinary garden soil. 



G. septemfida — Crested Gentian. — A very handsome species, 

 suitable only for culture on rockwork, except where moist peaty 

 borders exist, when it may be successfully grown on the level ; but 

 it delights most in peat, or sandy loam and peat, whatsoever sta- 

 tion it may occupy. The plant forms tufts about 9 inches high. The 

 leaves are lance-shaped, rather broadly so, and distinctly three-veined. 

 The flowers are large, bright blue, with a white -and -blue spotted 

 throat, and the smaller alternate segments are finely cut. Flowers 

 in August and September. Native of the Caucasus. 



G. Verna — Vernal Gentian. — One of the smallest and most beautiful 

 of Gentians. It grows only an inch or two high, and has the same 

 close matting style of growth as G. acaulis, but is even more dense and 

 compact than that plant. The leaves are hard, small, and oblong in 

 shape. The flowers are borne on short stems often barely carrying the 

 whole length of the tube of the flower above the mat of leaves ; they 

 are funnel-shaped, and divided at the mouth in five spreading rather 

 broad lobes, having intermediate and smaller lobes slightly cut or 

 crested between. They appear in April and May. The plant is a 

 native of high alpine pastures, and is often coddled and vexed to death 

 in cultivation. Although a tiny plant, it requires a deep, rich, cool, 

 sandy loam to grow in, and a good open exposure, and, like all or 

 nearly all Gentians, water in abundance is necessary during the grow- 

 ing season. The rockwork is the best place for it, where, if the 

 natural soil is not what it flourishes best in, a suitable compost may 

 be provided for it ; but if suitable, it may be tried with every confid- 

 ence in the open border. 



Limnanthemum nymphseoides, syn. Villarsia nymphseoides. — An 

 elegant aquatic plant, found in many parts of Britain and Ireland, but 

 supposed to have been introduced, and not native. It forms widely 



