176 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



HELMET-FLOWEK. 



SCUTELLARIA. 



LABIAT^E. DIDYNAMIA GYMNOSPERMIA. 



The common European species is also called the hooded willow 

 herb ; skull cap. — French, la toque [skull cap] ; centauree bleue [blue 

 centaury]; tertianaire, from its use in curing the tertian ague. — Italian, 

 terzanaria ; scodelletta [skull cap] . 



The kinds of Helmet-flower most generally cultivated 

 in our gardens, are, the Oriental, with yellow flowers, 

 blowing in May, June, and July ; the Alpine, which has a 

 violet-coloured flower with a white lip — a native of Cochin- 

 China, and of several parts of Europe ; the Florentine, 

 with large violet-coloured flowers ; and the Tall Helmet- 

 flower, with purple blossoms, from the Levant. They 

 may be sown in autumn, in separate pots, in a dry, poor 

 earth ; must be sparingly watered, and stand in the open 

 air. They will not last many years: the Oriental kind 

 will not bear transplanting. 



HELONIAS. 



MELANTHACEiE. HEXANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 



The Helonias is a native of North America. The 

 flowers are handsome ; their colour white or red, according 

 to the species: they may be increased by offsets taken 

 from the roots in autumn. They like a light, fresh soil, 

 and are hardy enough to thrive in the open air. The 

 roots must not be removed oftener than every third year. 

 The earth should be moderately moist. 



