COMPOSITE. 169 



and conspicuous, the disc being raised, and deep brown or 

 black, and the ray-florets bright yellow. Flowers in July and 

 August. Native of North America. 



R. subtomentosum {Doumy R.) — This species grows about 2 

 or 3 feet high, with erect branching stems. The lower leaves are 

 three-lobed, downy, and toothed ; the upper ones sharply lance- 

 shaped and toothed. A very free-blooming, handsome plant. 

 Flowers in August, lasting a couple of months. 



Santolina {Lavender- Cotton). — This genus is more remark- 

 able for neatness of habit than for beauty of the flowers. They 

 are half shrubby in character ; and several species have pretty 

 hoary leaves, which, along with their dwarf habit, has suggested 

 their use for certain styles of bedding out ; but as hoary-leaved 

 • subjects they are inferior to many others that we already pos- 

 sess. They are neat enough edging plants when they are pro- 

 perly dressed, but not decided enough in their grey tone. They 

 are very pretty little plants for mixed-border decoration, and 

 for rockwork pleasing always to look upon, and when clothed 

 with their yellow button-like flower-heads they are quite attrac- 

 tive. The more shrubby species are easily propagated by cut- 

 tings in slight heat, in spring, after growth has well begun, 

 choosing the cuttings moderately hard at the base. If a little 

 bottom-heat cannot be given, they will strike quite well under 

 a hand-light, in a warm situati'^n in light, very sandy soil ; but 

 they do not root so freely in autumn, after growth is mature 

 and hardened. The more herbaceous species — of which alpina 

 is the only one amongst those selected — may be freely enough 

 propagated by division in autumn and spring. They prefer a 

 light sunny aspect and well-drained soil, but are not fastidious 

 as to the quality othenvise. 



S. alpina {Alpine Lavender- Cotto7i). — A dwarf or prostrate 

 plant, closely carpeting the ground with deeply and regularly 

 cut silky-grey leaves. The flower-stems are erect, each bearing 

 one discoid yellow flower. They are never very profuse at 

 one time, but continue from July till late autumn. Native of 

 Monte Marrone in the Abruzzi. It is best adapted for rock- 

 work, but may also be used in the front lines of mixed borders 

 in light sandy soil. 



S. Chamse-Cyparissus {Common Lavender- Cottofi). — This 

 forms compact shrubby bushes of hoary branches and leaves ; 

 the latter are divided into four rows of blunt short teeth. The 

 flower-stalks support each one flower similar in character to 

 the last. Flowers in July and August. Of this species there 

 are several varieties more or less distinct, which appear in lists 

 as species, the most marked of which are >S^. C. mcatia and 



