SILENE. 



shady side of a limestone rock. It is like a miniature of S. quadrifida, 

 w it li glossy tufted masses of very small glossy green leaves, narrow and 

 fine as moss ; and the flower-stems are as fine to match, about 2 or 

 3 inches in length, coming up in such profusion all the summor through, 

 that the plant is hidden in a cloud of small virginal white stars with 

 regular jags to the petals. 



8. quadrifida (8. quadridentata) is an abundant plant in shady 

 places, cool damp rocks, and path-sides in the limestone Alps, and in 

 the garden enjoys moist and shady rockwork no less, whore it makes 

 a delicate effect, being thready-frail and loose in habit, twice the size 

 of the last, but no less dainty, with quite narrow little glossy green 

 leaves, and branching airy stems that vary from 2 inches high to half 

 a foot, and shower forth, all tho summer through, multitudes of star- 

 flowers of very pure bright white, with four regular little teeth at the 

 edge of the petals, giving the blossoms a charming cog-wheel effect. 

 There is a variety of this, with broader leaves and rose-coloured flowers, 

 which is found on primary rocks, and is rare. Owing to its modest 

 habit, this blushing maiden is called 8. q. pudibunda (Helios per ma). 



8. Reichenbachiana blooms in May, with 4-inch stems, and white 

 flowers. 



S. Roehmeri stands near 8. olympica. It is a mat-forming plant of 

 Macedonia, with stems of hah a foot, bearing clusters of white blossoms 

 in that dirty isabelline tone affected by so many of the race. 



8. rupestris is only biennial, but may easily be raised yearly from 

 its abundant seed. For it is a really pretty species, often to be seen in 

 rough places and dry open slopes in the granitic Alps, where it forms 

 little leafy bluish-green tufts, with rather broad oval-pointed foliage, 

 and stiflish stems that vary between 3 and 10 inches, waving and 

 branching in quite a different effect from the lacy and cloudlike dainti- 

 ness of the Quadrifida group, or the taller and well-balanced elegance 

 of S. alpestris, yet quite effective in their sturdy neat way, with sprays 

 of milk-white flowers ample in the petals, which are only very slightly 

 lobed (if at all), instead of being cut into teeth, so that they look 

 mild and cosy and solid. It flowers persistently through the summer, 

 and the milky whiteness often passes into tender pink. In the garden 

 it should have a sumiy place in well-drained peaty soil or moraine, 

 with abundance of chips, but no lime. 



8. Saxifraga is the type of many, and common in all the ranges of 

 the Southern Alps. It makes a great loose cushion, on very thin 

 woody flopping stocks that dovelop into masses of innumerable pointed 

 narrow leaves of brilliant grassy green, from which rise ascending 

 sticky stems in perpetual profusion through the summer, wiry and 



364 



