COMPOSIT.'E. 159 



and they are either pink or purplish, and produced in July and 

 August. Native of mountain pastures in Scotland and the 

 Alps. There is a larger-flowered variety, in which the flower- 

 heads, twice the size of those of the species, are more showy. 

 It is in nurseries under the name E. g7'aiidiflorus — more pro- 

 perly it should be E. a. var. grandifiorus. Both the species 

 and the variety have at first sight some resemblance to Aster 

 alpinus ; but on closer examination they will be found to difter 

 in many not inconsiderable points, and the flowering period 

 of the latter is much longer. The Alpine E. is very well 

 adapted to culture on rockwork. 



E. glabellus {Smooth-leaved E.) — This species grows about i 

 foot or 18 inches high, with smooth narrow leaves clothing the 

 stems. The stems terminate in a corymb of few flower-heads. 

 The flow^ers are blue, and appear in July and August. Native 

 of North America. One of the best of the taller species, and 

 best fitted for the mixed border. 



E. Roylei {Royle's E) — A very dwarf and beautiful species, 

 reaching the height of only 3 or 4 inches. It is very near in 

 character to the Alpine E., but the flower-heads are larger and 

 paler purple, and the plant is altogether m.ore rigid and dwarf. 

 Flowers in early summer. Native of the Himalayas. Suitable 

 alike well for rockwork and the front lines of mixed borders. 



E. VUlarsii ( Villars's E.) — This species grows about i foot 

 or 18 inches high, with erect leafy stems. The leaves are 

 lance-shaped, slightly toothed, and rather rough to the touch. 

 The flower-heads are in panicles, not so large as some of the 

 preceding, nor very numerous, but very effective reddish purple. 

 Native of upland pastures on the Alps. Flowers in July and 

 August. 



Echinacea. — This is a bold showy group of plants producing 

 very large flower- heads, and in all species they are gaily 

 coloured. They are adapted only for border culture, and in- 

 troducing amongst dwarf shrubs. They succeed in any common 

 garden-soil, and are easily increased by division in autumn or 

 spring. 



E. angustifolia {Narrow-leaved E.) — This species is of com- 

 paratively recent introduction. It grows 3 or 4 feet high, pro- 

 ducing narrow lance-shaped leaves. The flower-heads are 

 large, and the ray is large, and composed of numerous narrow, 

 spreading, red or purplish florets, appearing in July and lasting 

 a month or two. Native of North America. 



E. intermedia, syn. Rudbeckia intermedia {Intermediate 

 E.) — This is a hybrid between the species immediately follow- 

 ing and the last one. It partakes of the character of both 



