For March, 1923 



65 



Armeria — Lychnis 



RICHARD ROTHE 



ARMERIA, a genus of the order riunibaginec'e, com- 

 monly called Sea-pink or Thrift, consists of a 

 number of useful rock garden inmates of long' 

 standing. The nomenclature of species in standard works 

 is in a chaotic state and as many of the species merely differ 

 under the microscope of the botanist our interest is best 

 limited to the few distinct forms we are faniiliar with. 



AniuTia marilima splcndcns 



Armeria cephalotes, valuable on account of its late flower- 

 ing, may be found listed as A. formosa, latifolia, maure- 

 tanica and pseudo-armeria. The round headed blossom^ 

 of the true cephalotes appear in early Autumn and are of 

 a deep rosy crimson. The species Armeria plantaginea. 

 going also under the names leucantha and scorzonera;- 

 folia, is at its best during June and July. Its blossoms 

 are rosy red and those of the variety alba are white. 



Best known to most of us is the common Armeria 

 vulgaris, growing wild along the coast lines of Great 

 Britain and also abounding on rather dry of)en sunny 

 plains of Central luu-oije. Its synonyms are A. elongata 

 maritima and Statice Armeria. The garden forms of 

 it listed in American catalogues under Armeria maritima 

 splendus, splendens alba and Laucheana, remain the most 

 desirable for American rockeries. The flower heads of 

 maritima splendens. the subject of our illustration, appear 

 in rosy pink or in white, while those of Laucheana are of 

 a bright pink color. Their very resistant tufted foliage 

 covering the ground densely and their decidedly hand- 

 some blossoms borne on thin wiry stems make the culti- 

 vated thrifts an ideal material for filling the pockets of 

 the sunny locations of rockeries and dry walls. They also 

 prove effective when employed for edging of borders in 

 herbaceous gardens. 



Arrnerias may be raised from seed sown in cold storage 

 early in Spring or propagated by divisions. Seedlings 

 flower the second year. Plantations should be made in 

 light sandy soil rich in humus. Do not forget a light leaf 

 covering for Winter protection. 



Lychnis 



The name Lychnis, derived from the Greek Lychnos, 

 the lamp, refers to one of the chief characteristics of this 

 hardy plant genus; that is, the strong fiery red of the 

 flowers of its foremost species. Indeed the intensitv of 

 the red of Lychnis chalcedonica, L. fulgens and L. 

 Haageana is rarely eclipsed by any other garden flower. 

 The prevailing tendency among many garden owners to 

 keep red out of their color schemes is no doubt in part the 

 reason for their frer[uent omission in modern gardens. 



Few perennials can be as easily raised and propagated as 

 lychnis. Early Spring seedlings flower profusely the first 

 season. All species are extraordinarily hardy, requiring 

 only a minimum of care. 



Lychnis at present remains the perennial of the be- 

 ginner with a small purse undisturbed yet by color riots. 

 It is the perennial of rural housewives and it claims its 

 undisputable space in every old-fashioned garden worthy 

 of the name. But as soon as we take up the cultivation 

 of the white-flowering varieties such as L. chalcedonica 

 alba plena, L. vespertina, L. flos-cuculi alba plena and 

 aliove all L. viscaria alba grandiflora jilena then we begin 



Lychnis liscaria }■■,>■,_!. i'\ 



to realize the existence of beautiful forms well worth their 

 space in modern gardens. The flowers of the last variety 

 mentioned rei>rcsent a fine material for filling vases. 

 Color harmony supreme or of little concern, I believe we 

 cannot attord to omit the Lychnis. The rich and glowing 

 magenta red of L. viscaria splendens fl. pi. may be an 

 impossibility in many modern color schemes, nevertlieless 

 its dazzling strength will always appeal to us so forcefully 

 that we can never lose sight of it. At present the rock- 

 garden offers the best opportunity to use it to full advan- 

 tage. Within its precincts we may also enjoy the low 

 dense cushion-like growth of Lychnis alpina, covered with 

 legions of little rosy-red blossoms and the two less known 

 species L. pyrenaica and L. yunanensis. 



My impression is that the genus Lychnis of late has 

 been somewhat neglected. In taking up the cultivation 

 of the best species and varieties we are apt to increase 

 our cash returns and, in availing ourselves of the oppor- 

 tunities for effective garden use, we doubtless will add to 

 the beauty of our home gi"ounds. I particularly wish to 

 call attention to the quick and easy raising of the single- 

 flowering species from seed. 



Kind hearts -are the gardens, 



Kind thoughts are the roots, 

 Kind words are the blossoms, 



Kind deeds are the fruits. 



Do not look for wrong -and evil. 



You will find them if you do : 

 As you measure for your neighbor, 



He will measure back to you. — -Alice Cary. 



