220 SCROPHULARIACE.^. 



up till then, after which they must be gradually inured to the full 

 influence of light and air. Don't give water unless quite neces- 

 sary — let them flag rather than drench them ; they are safer 

 rather dry than wet throughout the winter, but protect by 

 means of a mat or a little straw on the glass in severe weather. 

 They should be turned out as early in spring as possible, taking 

 care first to inure them to the weather in the frame by the 

 removal of'the lights. 



P. azureus {^Azure-flowered P.) — The plant grows about 2 or 

 2^ feet high. The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, and 

 glaucous. The flowers are produced in racemes of consider- 

 able length, and are bright pale-blue. Native of California. 

 The flowers open in July, and continue for a couple of months. 

 An excellent hardy species, but more or less of stock should 

 be stored by cuttings, as above directed. 



P. barbatus, syn. Chelone barbata {Bearded P.) — This fine 

 plant is better known in gardens by the name Chelone than 

 Pentstemon, but the latter is the correct name. It is not an 

 uncommon plant in even small collections of hardy border- 

 plants, being very hardy and easily kept — not, in fact, requiring 

 the annual propagation above directed in a general way. The 

 plant grows 3 or more feet high, the stems being sparely fur- 

 nished with lance-shaped, somewhat glaucous, leaves. The 

 flowers are bright scarlet, in long graceful racemes, the lower 

 lip being bearded with orange-coloured hairs. They begin to 

 appear in early summer, and last till late autumn. There is a 

 splendid variety of this named To7'reyi, more robust and luxuri- 

 ant and freer blooming than, the older form of the species, and 

 more worthy of a place in limited collections of choice orna- 

 mental plants. Native of Mexico. 



P. Cobsea {Cobcea-like P.) — A peculiar and distinct species, 

 growing to the height of about 3 feet. The whole plant is 

 clothed with short glandular hairs. The leaves are long, lanceo- 

 late, the margins marked with small sharp teeth. The flowers 

 are produced in whorls in the axils of the leaves on the upper 

 part of the stems, thus producing a somewhat leafy spike of 

 considerable length. They are variegated purple, red, yellow, 

 and white, the corolla being short and somewhat barrel- 

 shaped. Native of Texas, and somewhat difficult to keep, 

 especially in cold wet soils and extremely dry ones. Cuttings, 

 too, are apt to perish in cold frames from damp, and are 

 best kept in pots, so as to be easily moved, if necessary, into a 

 warmer or drier position. It flowers also late — too late, in cold 

 late districts, to be of much use ; on these accounts it is clearly 

 not to be recommended to amateurs, nor for culture in the north. 



