158 ALPINE PLANTS 
Lycunis.—For bright colours and freedom of flowering 
several species and varieties of Lychnis clamour for in- 
clusion in any collection of Alpines that aims at bright 
effects. L. alpina, with its closely set, bright rose-coloured 
flowers, is a capital plant of easy growth. L. fulgens 
gives us a splash of striking scarlet, the blossoms being 
large for a plant growing only about half a foot high. 
L. Lagasce, another rose-coloured kind, becomes literally 
covered with bloom from early May onwards to late 
summer, and there are many shades of pink, salmon, 
terra-cotta, and scarlet in the hybrids of L. haageana, 
which may be easily raised from seed. There are white 
forms of several of the species, but they lack the attrac- 
tiveness of the coloured types. Lychnis present little 
difficulty so far as culture is concerned, for they will grow 
in most soils, and only ask some sunshine to throw up 
the brightness of their colours. 
In most cases they form clumps of tufted growths which 
divide with ease, whilst seed grows freely and can be 
fairly well relied upon to come true. 
MACROTOMIA ECHIOIDES.—There is a unique charm 
about this plant which endears itself to those who study 
their plants individually at close quarters. Of rather 
compact growth, with light green leaves, the plant throws 
up flower spikes about 9g inches high with terminal bunches 
of light yellow blossoms somewhat resembling a primula 
in shape. Around each corolla are distributed five evenly 
defined spots of rich velvety purple, the effect being 
striking in its unusual character. To see a clump with 
a number of well-developed flower heads is a remarkably 
