MATTHIOLA 167 



Matthi'ola — continued. 



M. grce'ca, or Walljloiver-leaned Stock, is an annual, 

 and quite a contrast to any other variety, 

 having glossy deep-green foliage very like a 

 Wallflower. The double white flower spikes 

 are similar to the type, but are scarcely more 

 than 12 ins. high. A native of the Greek 

 Archipelago. A variety of this, known as 

 All the Year Round, is double white, compact, 

 and vigorous, and a good bedder, with glossy 

 leaves. 12 ins. high. 



M. fenestra'lis is a biennial plant. 1 ft. high. From 

 Crete in 1759, with purplish flowers. It has 

 been improved by cultivation, and now pro- 

 duces many colom's. See Bi'ompton Stocks. 



M. inca'na, or the wild Hoary Shrubby Stock of 

 the Isle of Wight, is the common ancestor of 

 the valuable Brompton and Queen Stocks. 

 These are very similar and both biennials. 

 They may be distinguished by the roughness 

 of the under side of the leaf in the Queen 

 Stock, while the Brompton is smooth, and 

 there are other slight diflerences. The Queen 

 Stock is perhaps rather the better of the two 

 for exposed situations, and sometimes proves 

 to be almost perennial. There are a dozen 

 shades and colours among the Bromptons, 

 but not quite so many among the Queen 

 Stocks. These are generally scarlet, white, 

 or purple, usually single, but sometimes 

 double. Beauty of Nice, flesh-pink; Queen 



