ONOSMA. 



a large number of varieties, many of which have now been promoted 

 into -] • 3. Of such are 0. erection, q.v.. and 0. tauricum. Pallas, q.c. 

 (formerly 0. stelluhtum) ; angustifolium of Boissier (0. scorpioeides, 

 Huet.). a narrower-leaved form, more ashen-grey in its leaf-colouring. 

 Then there were 0. 8. pallidum with whitish flowers, and 0. 8. brevi- 

 folium. a neat little mountain form from the higher Alps of Lycia, 

 -ing into 0. erection ; while even 0. echioeides was once 

 typical 0. stellulatum genuinum, so that there is but little 

 left of the original 0. stellulatum to-day ; though you may still know 

 it as a Bpeci< - apart by the fact that \te flower-sterna are as long as the 

 calyces after blooming, unlike the very short pedicels of 0. echioeides. 

 while from 0. tauricum (which is the same in this respect) it differs 

 also in broader foliage and much less dense investiture of greyness. 

 But. Lord, what nice quillets are these, in the case of a species so 

 variable and widely spread ! 



<>. ■ iim is rough as the ways of the world all over. But 



otherwise a pleasant small plant, having the habit of 0. frutescens, 

 though not half- shrubby at the base, but wholly herbaceous, with short 

 stems of 6 inches or so, and the same lovely laige variable flowers of 

 yellow and pink and violet. (Sea -rocks of the Aegean.) 



0. tauricum. — Our well-beloved favourite old Onosma, the one 

 and only Golden Drop of the garden, has already been amply differ- 

 entiated from its close cousins. Its flower-pedicels do not equal the 

 calyces after flowering as in 0. stellulatum. while the leaves are narrower, 

 and the plant greyer altogether with ashen hairs. That being said, 

 an all rejoice in its wide enormous masses of narrow grey flopping 

 foliage, out of which summer calls such gracious croziers of hanging 

 ample flowers of a waxy and lemony lusciou-nc-s peculiar to them- 

 selves, and exactly asking for the name of Golden Drop in their melting 

 confectionery clarity of colour and texture. The hot bank that suits 

 all has had this for its inmate many years ; it will strike from cuttings, 

 and always behaves itself in the garden with heartiness and decorum ; 

 one of the best and most characteristic of easy-going beautiful Bor- 

 ragineous rock-plants. 



O. Thompson* is really Eckium rather than Onosma. It is perennial 

 in warm, well-drained soil, forming a deep root with several crowns, 

 and sending up in late summer a number of very stiff and stout stems 

 of 18 inches more or less, set all the way with tight clusters of small 

 ruby-col' 3 packed in a spike up the stalks. The 



whole growth is rough and hispid, and, though noble enough and 

 brill: unyielding way. hardly ~'j enter so brilliant 



:na. (It comes from sonv I up in Sikkim.) 



16 



