STELLATE. 145 



Asperula odorata ( Woodruff). — This is not a highly orna- 

 mental plant, but is nevertheless pleasing and attractive, — as 

 much, perhaps, on account of its agreeable fragrance as its 

 pretty white flowers, and the handsome arrangement of its fresh 

 green leaves. It is not unworthy of a place in the mixed bor- 

 der ; but its greatest value lies in the facility with which it 

 establishes itself in shady places under trees, where little else 

 will grow. Many a naked unsightly spot in woods may be 

 clothed with a cheerful carpet of verdure by the free use of 

 this pretty plant, and the considerable profusion of pure- white 

 flowers which it produces in spring and early summer, in even 

 the shadiest places, if not imposing, is quite enjoyable. So old 

 an inhabitant of gardens scarce requires description. It may be 

 freely increased by division in autumn, winter, or spring. Native 

 of Britain and most countries of Europe and northern Asia. 



Crucianella stylosa (Lo?tg-sfykd C.) — This is an ornamental 

 member of an otherwise weedy group. It is a diffusely-tufted 

 plant, with a profusion of weak, straggling, procumbent stems, 

 clothed with whorls of six or more narrow lance-shaped leaves, 

 acutely pointed, and otherwise rough to the touch from short 

 bristly hairs. The flowers are produced in small but handsome 

 terminal heads, and are bright rose or pink, with long styles 

 protruding conspicuously beyond the corollas. Flowers from 

 June to September. Height about i foot. Flourishes best in 

 light, warm, sandy loam, but succeeds well in any ordinary gar- 

 den-soil, and is worthy of a place in any collection of orna- 

 mental herbaceous plants. Increase by division in autumn, 

 winter, or spring. 



Houstonia. — This is a small genus of diminutive North 

 American plants. They are simple, pretty, and interesting. 

 They are adapted only for culture on rockwork among small 

 alpine plants, for they should have no troublesome encroaching 

 neighbours. They succeed best in moist sandy peat and loam, 

 in warm positions. Propagate by division in spring ; and the 

 divisions will be more successful if first established in pots in 

 a cold frame, or under a hand-glass for a time. 



H. caenilea {Blue JI.) — The plant forms dwarf rounded 

 masses of small egg-shaped leaves, over w^hich the tiny stems 

 rise an inch or two, bearing small pretty flowers, with pale-blue 

 four-lobed corollas, changing in age to white. Flowers from 

 late spring till autumn. Height about 6 inches. 



Mitchella repens (O'^^/;/^ J/.) — This forms flat close car- 

 pets of creeping, rooting stems, clothed with opposite pairs of 

 broadly egg-shaped dark -green leaves, which are evergreen. 

 In the axils are produced the small, white, rather long-tubed 



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