Cynara — Dahlia . 111 



leaves, from 2 ft. to 6 ft. long. It is one of the most valu- 

 able of the greenhouse plants that may be placed in the 

 open air in summer from the end of May till October, and 

 is particularly graceful in the centre of a bed of flowering 

 plants, or isolated with the pot or tub plunged to the rim 

 in the turf, always in a warm and sheltered position. 

 Increased by seeds, or by separation of the suckers which 

 are occasionally thrown up. 



*Cynara Scolymus (French Artichoke). — This plant, 

 although chiefly grown for culinary purposes, possesses 

 sufficient merit as a foliage-plant to entitle it to a place 

 amongst ornamental subjects. Its long, deeply-divided 

 leaves, white and downy beneath, its height (4 ft. to 5 ft.), 

 its purplish flower-heads, and distinct habit render it very 

 suitable for planting on the irregular and rougher parts 

 of pleasure -grounds, grass-plats, etc., which are often 

 occupied by subjects far less striking. 



*Cyperus longus (Galingale). — The stiff, erect, 

 tapering, triangular stem of this plant, which is from 2 ft. 

 to 3 ft. high, is crowned by a handsome loose umbellate 

 panicle of chestnut-coloured flower-spikes, at the base of 

 which there is an involucrum of three or more unequal 

 leaves. These are often 1 or 2 feet long, the lower ones 

 arching gracefully and of a bright shining green, giving 

 the plant a very distinct and pleasing appearance. The 

 rootstock is thick and aromatic, and was formerly much 

 used in medicine as a tonic. A rare native plant, suitable 

 for the bog-bed or the margin of water. 



Dahlia imperialis (Lily-floiuered Dahlia). — The 

 common Dahlia gives us no more idea of this than the 

 little vernal Scilla of Britain does of Scilla peruviana. 



