Funkia — Geranium. 1 4 1 



shoots, and leaving the head to form a standard. Their 

 exceptional grace when placed among fine foliage-plants 

 induces me to allude to them here. 



*Funkia Sieboldiana. — A Japanese plant, remarkable 

 for the elegance of its leaves, which are large, broadly 

 heart-shaped, of a greyish-green colour, slightly undu- 

 lating, and finely marked with regular lines of pro- 

 minent ribs. The flowers are of a light lilac or bluish 

 colour, and are borne in a drooping unilateral cluster at 

 the extremity of a leafless stem 1 ft. or 16 ins. high. 

 Thrives best in a light, cool, sandy soil in a sheltered 

 half-shady position. It will also thrive well in peat. 

 Multiplied by division of the tufts in autumn, once in 

 three or four years. Useful among the dwarfer herbaceous 

 plants, etc., and occasionally as a groundwork in beds of 

 shrubs with fine foliage. 



*Galega officinalis. — A handsome, hardy, and vigo- 

 rous-growing plant, 3 ft. to 5 ft. high, forming graceful 

 tufts of pinnate leaves, and flowering abundantly and for 

 a long time ; the flowers are of a pale blue, in long, dense 

 clusters or spikes. Although it will grow in almost any 

 soil, it does best in a deep, free, moist, sandy clay. This 

 not uncommon herbaceous plant is alluded to here in 

 consequence of its graceful leaves, which fit it for taking 

 a part in the groups of handsome hardy subjects so often 

 suggested in this book. 



Geranium anemonsefolium. — A handsome perennial 

 from Madeira, with a simple, woody, erect stem 1 ft. to 

 1 4 ins. in height, covered with dry scales. The leaves, which 

 are of a bright green, smooth, and very much divided, are 

 chiefly collected at the base of the plant, from which they 



