PLUMBAGIXACE.^. 25/ 



naked, having only a small lanceolate bract or two under the 

 flower-heads. The flower-heads are large, dark blue, and ap- 

 pear in June and July. Native of Germany, and adapted alike 

 well to the rockwork or mixed border, in partial shade. 



G. nana {Small G.) is a very diminutive species, forming 

 dwarf carpet-like patches of small, bright-green leaves. The 

 flower-heads rise only an inch or two above the foliage, are not 

 large, but profuse, are pale blue or lilac, and appear in June 

 and July. Native of the mountains of France, and suitable 

 only for' cultivation on rockwork, or in pots in gritty peat and 

 loam. 



G. vulgaris (Co??wio?i G.) grows about 6 or 8 inches high. 

 The lower leaves are stalked and lanceolate, the upper ones 

 stalkless and smaller, but of the same form. The flower-heads 

 are dense and bright blue, appearing in May, June, and July. 

 Common on the mountains of Europe generally. Adapted for 

 cultivation on rockwork or in the open border where a Uttle 

 shade can be secured. 



PLUMB AGIN ACE^. 



There are some useful and beautiful hardy herbaceous sub- 

 jects in this family, but they are not numerous, and they are 

 chiefly characterised by neatness and grace of habit rather than 

 gay colouring. They will be found useful for a variety of 

 purposes in the flower-garden, the majority being most useful 

 as border and rockwork ornaments. 



Armeria (Thrift). — These are all neat low-growing plants, 

 yielding a great profusion of flowers for a lengthened period in 

 summer, and generally they are very pleasing and attractive 

 plants. They are easily cultivated, doing best in light sandy 

 loam, and propagate freely by division in spring or early autumn, 

 by cuttings in some cases, and by seed. 



A. alpina {Alpine Thrift). — A dwarf species, with tufted 

 linear leaves in close masses, not very distinct in most respects 

 from vulgaris. The flower-stems are about 6 inches high, 

 bearing a round compact head of reddish or pale-purple flowers, 

 which appear in early summer and last a month or tvvo. Native 

 of alpine pastures in most of the mountainous countries of 

 Europe. Like the common Thrift, it may be used for edgings 

 to alleys and walks. 



A. cephalotes {Crimson Thrift). — Perhaps the most beauti- 

 ful of the group. It forms dense tufts of lanceolate leaves, 



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