238 PRIMULACE.I-. 



A. helvetica (Siaiss A.) — This species forms close cushion- 

 like masses i or 2 inches high. The leaves are hairy, bluntly 

 lance-shaped, and densely clothe the extremities of the short 

 stems in small rosettes. The flowers are borne singly on the 

 shortest of stalks, are pure white, and appear in July and 

 August. Native of the Alps and Pyrenees. 



A. lactea {Milk-iuhite A.) — A pretty tufted species, growing 

 2 or 3 inches high. The leaves, in rosettes, are narrow, lance- 

 shaped, smooth, and dark green, but fringed at the tips. The 

 flowers are large, white, in umbels on erect stalks, appearing 

 in June and July. Native of the Alps. 



A. lanuginosa ( Woolly A.) — A rather loose, trailing plant, 

 usually more bulky in all its parts than the European species. 

 The leaves are oval, lance-shaped, and densely clothed with 

 silky white close -lying hairs. The flowers, in small loose 

 umbels, are large individually, are bright pink with a yellow 

 eye, and appear in June, July, and August. In warm dry 

 soils this species succeeds well in the open border, but in sum- 

 mer requires abundant supplies of water ; and when tried in 

 this way there should always be a pot of cuttings struck in 

 early autumn to provide against loss. Native of the Hima- 

 layas. 



A. pubescens {^Downy A.) — A closely-tufted species. The 

 leaves are arranged in small rosettes, are linear, or widening 

 somewhat upwards, and fringed with hairs. The flowers are 

 borne singly, on short stalks, at the extremities of the shoots ; 

 and are pure white with a yellow centre. Flowers in June and 

 July. Native of the Pyrenees and mountains of Dauphiny. 



A. villosa {Shaggy A.) — A very pretty and distinct plant, 

 and one of the smallest of the perennial species. It grows in 

 close tufts, a few inches broad. The leaves are arranged in 

 small rosettes, and are very narrow, oblong, and densely clothed 

 with comparatively long, grey, silky hairs. The flowers, in 

 small umbels, are pure white, with yellow or red centres. Found 

 often in company with the last, and inhabiting the same coun- 

 tries generally. Flowers in June and July. 



Aretia. — This genus is nearly allied to the last, and the 

 species which most commonly represents it in cultivation often 

 bears the generic name Androsace and Gregoria, but chiefly 

 amongst botanists, for it is best known to gardeners by the 

 name here adopted. It requires the same treatment in all 

 respects as the Androsaces. 



A. Vitaliana ( VitaFs A,) — A very pretty and distinct plant, 

 prostrate in habit, with numerous stems clothed with linear 

 acute leaves. The flowers are yellow and numerous; they 



