158 COMPOSITE. 



account one or two of the species have been recommended for 

 spring bedding. Their general coarseness would be rather too 

 loud and striking, associated closely with the majority of spring 

 flowers ; but there is no reason why they may not be used in 

 connection with the spring flower-garden as groups in the back- 

 ground. Propagate by division. 



D. caucasicum (Smaller Leopard' s-Bane). — The plant grows 

 about 6 or 9 inches high, producing dense tufts of roundish 

 egg-shaped leaves, heart-shaped at the base, and toothed and 

 hairy. Flower-stems simple, bearing one large flov/er-head 

 each, bright yellow, with a widespreading ray. Native of the 

 Caucasus, Naples, Sicily, and other countries of southern and 

 central Europe. This is one of the least coarse of the group, 

 and is well adapted for naturalising in shady places, and may 

 be used in the spring flower-garden without the objection of 

 coarseness that attaches to the larger kinds. Flowers in May, 

 continuing some time into summer. 



D. Pardalianches ( Great Leopaj-d's-Baiie). — This species 

 forms massive tufts of leaves that are broadly heart-shaped, 

 softly hairy, and openly toothed. The stems rise about 2 feet 

 high, are leafy, and terminate in several large spreading bright 

 yellow flower-heads, appearing in May and June. Native of 

 Britain as a naturalised plant, but originally it is from central 

 Europe. 



There are several other species of Leopard's-Bane in cultiva- 

 tion, but the two above described embrace more or less between 

 them the characters of the others. D. cdtaiciun, a white-flow- 

 ered species not in cultivation, is worthy of being introduced. 



Erigeron. — This genus comprises a few handsome border 

 species. They are mostly profuse-flowering plants with purple 

 or blue coloured flower-heads. There are about twenty species 

 in cultivation, but a good many of them are very near each 

 other in their general appearance, so that a small selection may 

 be made to embrace all that it would be desirable to have in a 

 collection of distinct ornamental plants. They thrive well in 

 any garden-soil, and are easily propagated by division in spring. 

 Although more specially adapted to border ornamentation, one 

 or tvvo species are very fit subjects for the rockwork, and will 

 be pointed out in their proper place. 



E. alpinus {Alpme E.) — This is a dwarf plant forming neat 

 tufts rarely exceeding 9 inches in height. The leaves are lance- 

 shaped and somewhat hairy, and fringed with hairs, but entire 

 on the margins. Flower-stems usually simple and one-flowered, 

 but not unfrequently in rich soil producing several flower-heads. 

 The flower-heads are large, with widespread narrow ray florets, 



