212 SCROPHULARIACEyE. 



stamens, and appear in early summer, and continue for some 

 months. Native of Britain, other countries of Europe, and 

 western Asia. There are numerous hybrids of this plant differ- 

 ing in habit, foliage, stature, and the colour of the flowers, but 

 I have met with none superior to the typical form for border 

 decoration. 



V. phoenicum [Pia-ple Mulleiii). — A very distinct plant, and 

 excellent border ornament. The leaves are mostly confined to 

 the roots and the base of the stems. They are dark-green, 

 with a dash of purple on them, but destitute of hairs. The 

 stems are weak, at first erect, but in the process of growth be- 

 coming straggling. The flowers are in very long slender 

 racemes, very numerous, and dark bronze purple. There are 

 several hybrids and varieties of this plant in gardens, some of 

 which are well worth a place along with the type, the most 

 valuable being the white and the red flowered. Height 2 or 

 more feet. Flowers appear in June, and continue for some 

 months. Native of the south of Europe. 



SCROPHULARIACE^. 



This is a very important tribe of plants in floriculture, com- 

 prising as it does the Calceolaria, the Pejitste7no?i, Mi7?iulus, and 

 many other sho^vy genera with which we are more or less 

 familiar, and not a few that are not very generally known out- 

 side botanical gardens. 



Antirrhinum {Snap-Dragon). — This genus is so familiar to 

 all who have anything to do with gardens or flowers, and so 

 generally admired, that in so far as the most common species 

 is concerned, there is no need for description or praise, as it 

 is long and unassailably established in favour. There are 

 other species, but all are inferior in usefulness and beauty to 

 A. 7najus in all its variety. 



A. Asarina {Italian Snap-Dragon). — A very distinct and 

 attractive plant, but unfortunately not easily cultivated in most 

 parts of the countr}^ It is not advisable to attempt its culture 

 in borders or other flat surfaces in any part of the country, but 

 on rockwork it may be gro\\Ti with satisfaction in all the more 

 favoured districts ; in the north, however, it will require to be 

 kept in pots and treated as a half-hardy alpine. It is a pros- 

 trate creeping plant with feeble stems, rather thinly clothed 

 with roundly-heart-shaped, hairy, somewhat viscid, irregularly- 



