102 



The Dictionary of Gardening, 



Aciuilegfia — continued. 



Fig. 136. Aquilegia olympica, showing Habit and Flower. 





^!^ 



Fig. 137. AQUILECilA sibirica flore-pleno, slioi\-iiig 

 Habit and Flower. 



A. V. Wittmanniana (Wittmann's). Jl. large, bright lilac purple ; 



sepals ovate-acute, liii. to l^in. long, more than half as much 



broad ; limb of petals white, about half the length of sepals ; spur 



curved. A very fine variety. 



The following names are also met with in gardens, some of which 

 represent specific forms, but none are effective as garden orna- 

 ments: adrena, Bargeriana, Uaylvdyensis (hybrid), grata^ longia- 

 sinui, nevadensis, oxysepala, &c. 



AQUOSUS. Watery. 



ARABIS (origin of the word not clear). Wall Cress; 

 Eock Cress. Ord. Cracifercc. Hardy perennial trailers, 

 except where otherwise stated. Flowers mostly white ; 

 racemes terminal; pedicels bractless. Badical leaves usually 

 stalked ; cauline ones sessile or stem- clasping, entii-e or 

 toothed, rarely lobcd. Most members of this genus are 

 peculiarly well adapted for rockwork and the alpine garden, 

 both from their natural hardihood as well as their early and 

 profuse flowering habits. They are of the easiest possible 

 culture in any dry soil. The perennial species may either 



Arabia — continued. 

 be increased by divisions of the root, by cuttings, placed 

 in a shady border during the summer, or by seed. The 

 latter may be sown outside, or in pans, in spring, when 

 most of them will germinate in two or three weeks. The 

 annuals and biennials are for the most part devoid of any 

 cultural beauty. 



A- albida (whitish).* /. white ; racemes terminal ; pedicels longer 



than the calyx. January to May. I. few-toothed, hoary, or 

 downy with branched hairs ; radical ones ohovate-oblong ; cauline 

 ones cordately sagittate, clasping the stem. h. 6in. to 9in. 

 Tauria and Caucasus, 1798. Syn. A. caucasica. 



A. a. variegata (variegated).* A very pretty variegated form for 

 edgings. 



Fig. 138. Arabis alpina, showing Habit and Flowers. 



A. alpina (alpine).* fl. white, smaller than those of A. albida; 

 racemes terminal ; pedicels longer than the calyx, which is 

 smoothish. March to May. I. many-toothed, lanceolate, acute, 

 villous ^vith branched hairs ; radical ones somewhat stalked ; cau- 

 line ones cordate, clasping the stem. h. 6in. European rocks, in 

 sunny places, 1596. There are one or two varieties, including a 

 variegated-leaved form, in cultivation. See Fig. 138. 



Fig. 139. Arabis arenosa, showing Habit and Flowers. 



A. arenosa (sand-loving).* tf. rose coloured, very rarely wliite or 

 bluish ; petals obovate ; pedicels spreading. April to Jnly. L 

 villous, with forked hairs ; radical ones pinnatifid, with the upper 

 lobes much larger than the lower ; cauline ones deeply toothed. 

 Stem branched, hispid, with simple hairs, h. 6in. Middle 

 Europe, 1798. See Fig. 159. 



A. blepharophylla (fringed-leaved).* fl. rosy purple ; petals 

 roundish, narrowing to the base, "vvith slender claws. Spring, t. 

 naked, except the margins, which are fringed with very stiff 

 hairs ; radical ones spathulate ; caiUine ones oblong, sessile, 

 /(. Sin. to 4in. California, 1874. This succeeds best in a cool 

 frame, where it will flower in January. 



A. caucasica (Caucasus). A synonym of A. albida. 



A. lucida (shining).* fl. white; petals entire, narrowed at the 

 base, twice as long as the calyx, ^^ummer. ?. obovate, thickish, 

 shiumg, claspinft the stem. h. 4in. to 6in. Hungary, 1790. A 

 very pretty species, with a dwarf habit ; it is especially adapted 

 for edgings, borders, or rockwork. 



A. 1. variegata (variegated).* A great improvement upon the 

 type, being broadly edged with yellow, and the green somewhat 

 lighter. When gi'own in tufts or as edgin"-, it is very effective, and 

 should be prevented fvom flowering. This exceedingly desirable 

 variety is a gem for the rocbworkrand when seen in crevices, or 

 in bold tufts, it is very striking. It must be increased by slips or 

 rootlet.'!, which should be taken in early summer. 



