ACERANTHUS. 
lipped in streaks of violet or pink on a ground of dim white. Though 
plants of the South, they prove resistent to our climate without fuss or 
protection. There are, however, two species whose stature fits them, 
no less than their charm, for a more choice and prominent place in 
the rock-garden. 
A. Dioscoridis var. Perringit (A. Perringii or Caroli-Alexandri of 
catalogues) is a most beautiful alpine from Cappadocian Antitaurus, 
where in nature it is.said to dislike lime. It is quite dwarf, the broad 
grey-green thorny leaves lying out almost flat upon the ground, while 
from their heart rise up stocky stems of 9 or 10 inches, crowded with 
handsome noble rosy flowers, almost, in suggestion, like some pink 
Brunella glorified unimaginably, and taught to look well-bred. No 
difficulty waits upon the culture of this treasure in free warm soil, 
light and well drained. It can, like all its kin, be easily raised from 
seed, or else multiplied by division, or by root-cuttings, in spring or 
autumn. 
A. hirsutus is yet another dwarf, from the mountains of Lydia 
and Caria. It spreads and ramifies freely through its bed, instead of 
remaining a tuffet of crowns like the last ; and in autumn the leaf-buds 
for the next season may be seen heartfully emerging from the bare 
soil. These leaves are gentler than is the rule in the race—tender, and 
of tender green, armed with tender thorns that do not even threaten, 
and accordingly run the risk of being called mere bristles. The flower- 
columns do not exceed some 9 or 10 inches, and the flowers are 
yellow. 
Aceranthus is a curious smail race of woodlanders from Japan, 
closely allied to Epimedium. Of these A. sagittifolius has the 
foliage, but its flowers are small and insignificant. On the other 
hand, A. diphyllus is a most charming thing, only about 4 or 5 inches 
high, with two little leaves like pointed shields, with teeth so sharp as 
to look almost bristly, and a small loose spike of blossoms which are 
large and conspicuous for the size of the plant. Not generally known | 
in cultivation, this delicate fine beauty should prove a treasure for 
any cool woodland corner where Epimedium and Vancouveria are 
happy. 
Achilléa is a vast race of the temperate zone, most common in 
the Old World, and rising, from the meadows, to considerable heights 
in the alpine region. Unfortunately the curse of Compositae lies hard 
on Achillea, and the family is painfully prolific in frightful weeds, 
many of which are also coarse and rampant in growth as well as being 
dim and dirty in flower. Much danger attaches to the mention of any 
undescribed Achillea in a catalogue; for the sake, however, of the 
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