Ifoerbaceous plants. 



nial about two feet high. Leaves of the root entire, stem- 

 SSS leaves pinnatifid ; flowers rosy-lilac iu large heads. 

 Flowers in early summer; a handsome plant of 

 grassy hillsides and meadows. Fine for naturaliz- 

 ing on grassy banks or margins of water. 



Blue Bonnets, >S. Succica. — A plant common 

 in meadows and on grassy banks in Europe, very 

 handsome, with almost globular heads of deep 

 blue, purple, or white flowers ; leaves obovate or 

 oblong; stem leaves small, lanceolate, toothed. 

 Grows a foot high and flowers during a long 

 period in summer. 



FIG 141— BLUE 

 BONNETS 

 (SCABIOSA 

 SUCCIC/O. 



THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



Marianna Thistle, Silybum marianum. — A dwarf and 

 ornamental plant with foliage close to the ground. Leaves 

 oblong, sinuately lobed with spiny teeth, pale green blotched 

 with white ; flowers purple, insignificant. For use in sea- 

 side gardening on sandy shores. 



Cornflower, Centaurea Oyanus. — A handsome annual a 

 couple of feet high with narrow, linear-lanceolate leaves and 

 heads of bright blue flowers in summer. There are several 

 varieties with lilac, rose-colored, or white flowers all inferior 

 to this type. In beds with Paris daisies and scarlet poppies, 

 or in borders. Moderately good soil. Sweet sultan, G. 

 moschata. — Annual with lyrate leaves and purplish flowers. 

 A yellow-flowered species with sweet-scented flowers (C. 

 suaveolens) is frequently grown under the name of sweet 

 sultan. Both may be grown with good effect among rocks 

 or on sunny, barren slopes. C. montana is a perennial plant 



