140 



The Dictionary of Gardening, 



Aster — continued. 



Horets finely imbricated, and filled nj) to the centre when quite 



Djien. The colours are of great lirilliailcy, and of many shades. 



h. 2ft. 

 Pompone Goliath.* Flower-hearts globular, and florets very 



closely set. V.clualile for bouciuets, as the Howers remain intact 



for a considerable time. 

 Pyramidal Hedgehog. .Shigularand inii(iue. Stems upright, 



and branched; eacli branch terminated by a single flower-head, 



wliicli is filled up \\itli quill-like florets. Colours various. 



//. lilt. 

 Truffaut's Pseony Perfection.* Vigorou.s upright giowers, 



having large, heniispherical-formeil heads of flowers with incurved 



florets, 4in. across. The colours also are very varieil. h. about 



2ft. .See Figs. 183 and 181. 



Fig. 185. Victori.i Aster. 



Victoria.* One of the most popular classes of Asters grown ; flowei'- 

 heads very doulile, imbricate, globular, 4in. in diameter, from 

 ten to twenty on a plant, of various shades, h. 1ft., with a 

 pyramiilal haliit. See Fig. 185. 



ASTEKACANTHA (from asfei; a .star, and acmttha, 

 a spine ; referring to the disposition of tlie spines). Ord. 

 Acduthacew. A handsome greenhou.se herbaceous perennial, 

 of easy culture in sandy loam. It should be grown in a 

 sunny position, and be kept moderately dry, otherwise little 

 but foliaceous growth will bo produced ; but, if thus treated, 

 it flowers freely. Propagated by divisions in spring ; or 

 by seeds, sown in August. 



A. longifolia (long-leaved). Jl. yellow, in dense axillary fascicles. 

 .Itdy. /. lanceolate, tapering to the bjuse, narrow, sessile, serrately 

 ciliated. Stem quadrangular. Plant rather hairy, h. 2ft. Iiulia, 



1781. 



ASTEBACEiE. See Compositae. 



ASTEBOCEFHALUS. See Scabiosa. 



ASTILBE (fromii, without, and sfiiie, brilliancy ; in al- 

 lusion to the inconspicuous flowers of some of the species). 

 Ord. Snxifrafjaeece. TaU branching herbs, with triternate 

 or biternate leaves, allied to Spirwa, from which they differ 

 in having not more than three carpels, eight or ten stamens, 

 and numerous albuminous seeds. Tliey are all more or less 

 gracefxrl, and some indispensable, either when grown in 

 isolated clumps, or intermingled with other herbaceous 

 plants. They thrive well in almost any rich garden soil, 

 preferring damp positions, and are easily propagated by 

 division, which is best done in early .spring. A. japonira 

 is grown very extensively for decorative purposes, its ele- 

 gant spikes of pure white flowers rendering it especially 



Astilbe — continued. 

 valuable. The majority of the plants cultivated are im- 

 ported, but they may be grown fairly well in this country 

 in heavily manured soil. They should be potted as early 

 as possible in the autumn, and plunged in ashes or fibre 

 outside, when they will soon commence to root, after which 

 they may be placed in heat, and forced as required, always 

 giving an abundance of water. Indeed, the pots may be 

 stood in pans of water, especially when the plants are well 

 furnished with growth. 



A. barbata (bearded). A syntmym of A. japonica. 

 A. decandra (ten-stamened). ji white, in spicate racemose 

 panicles. May. I. biternate; leaflets cordate, deeply lobed and ser- 

 rated, glandular beneath, and on the petioles. A. 2ft. to 3ft. North 

 America, 1812. 



Fig. 186. Astilbe japonica. 



A. japonica (Japanese).* fl. small, pure white, in large branch- 

 ing racemose panicles. May. I. triternate or pinnate, serrated. 

 h, 1ft. to 2ft. .Tapan. This is best grown in pots, as early frosts 

 generally cut it down in the open air. Sy.ns. Spirrea barbata and 

 japonica, also Ilntcia and A. barbata. See Fig. 186. 



A. j. variegata (variegated).* (. prettily variegated with yellow ; 

 panicles nnich more dense th.an the type ; indeed, it is far superior 

 in that respect. 



Fig. 187. Astilbe uivrLAitis. 



A. rlvularis (brook).* fi. yelhtwish-white, or reddish, in large 

 panicled sjiikes. Late summer. I. biternate ; leaflets ovate, doubly 

 serrated, villous beneath and on the petioles, h. 3ft. Nepaul. 

 A grand plant for the margins of lakes or damp woodlands. See 

 Fig. 187. 



A. rubra (red).* fl. rose, very numerous, in dense panicles. Late 

 summer and autumn, t. biternate ; leaflets oblique, cordate, 

 lin. to 2in. long, with elongated, serrated points, h. 4ft. to 6ft. 

 India, 1851. A very pretty, but rare species ; excellent for sub- 

 tropical gardening. 



