CATSOPHILA 



THE Bl'LB BOOK 



HABUTZIA 



leaves about 6 ins. long and aV)Out 

 3 ins. broad, narrowed into a stalk 

 about G ins. lonj;. Over a dozen 

 pale lilac flowers appear in Februarj- 

 or March on slender stems about a 

 foot high. (JJot. Beg. t. 511.) 



GYPSOPHILA ((/j/2->so.«, chalk; 

 phileo, to love ; in reference to their 

 natural love of a chalky soil). Nat. 

 Ord. Caryophylleae. — This genus 

 contains about fifty species of annual 

 and perennial herbaceous plants 

 having swollen joints, opposite leaves, 

 and large panicles of small tubular 

 or bell-shai»ed flowers, having five 

 narrow-clawed petals, ten stamens, 

 and two (or rarely three) styles. The 

 tuberous - rooted species worthy of 

 note are : — 



G. Mangini.— A Siberian species 

 with thick fleshy roots, blue-green 

 leaves, and small panicles of rather 

 light rose-coloured flowers. 



G. paniculata. — A light and graceful 

 S. European perennial, with thick 

 parsnip-like, roots. It forms a dense 

 compact bush 2 to 3 ft. high. Stems 

 much branched, knotty, smooth and 

 glistening, very .slender and fragile. 

 Leaves linear, lance-shaped, o])i>osite, 

 without stalks. Flowers during the 

 summer, small, white, very numerous, 

 borne on stiffish thread-like stalks. 



This species may be increa.sed by 

 dividing the thickish roots in spring, 

 or seeds may be sown thinly out of 

 doors in Aj^ril and May in a warm 

 and not too sunny border with finely 

 prepared soil. As soon as the 

 seedlings are large enough to handle 

 easily they may be pricked out into 

 another bed, afterwards keejnng them 

 well watered and shaded until 

 established. By the end of Sep- 

 tember, or in mild weather in spring, 

 the young ]ilants may be moved 

 to their flowering ]>ositions in the 

 flower-border. Once established they 



produce immense clouds of blossom 

 annually, and are valualile for cutting 



Fio. 178. — Gypaophila paniculata, 

 root-stock. (J.) 



for bouquets, room decoration, etc., 

 either in masses by themselves or 

 mixed with other flowers. 



HABLITZIA (after C. von HaUitz, 

 a di.stinguislied Prussian author and 

 traveller). Xat. Ord. Chenopodiacese. 

 —This genus contains but one species 

 — H. tamnoides. A Caucasian plant 

 with tuberous, turnip-shaped roots, 

 climbing, ribbed deciduous stems 

 several feet long, and broad, entire, 

 triangular heart-shaped, memlDranous, 

 pointed leaves on long stalks. The 

 small greenish-yellow flowers appear 

 from July to October in drooping 

 trusses. 



This plant flourishes in ordinary 

 garden soil, and may be used in the 

 same way as the Hop, etc., for 

 covering arches, trellises, etc. It is 



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