118 



Bell-flower; 10. C. fruticosa, Shrubby Cape Bell-flower; 11. C. ra- 

 punculusi Esculent Rampion. 



There are other species in this extensive genus deserving of at- 

 tention. 



The first has the root like that of Navew, and eatable: the stem 

 is very straight, eighteen inches high and more, (in gardens two feet 

 and a half,) unbranched, angular, smooth, as is the whole plant: the 

 flowers are in a thin spike, one or two together, on very long pedun- 

 cles, which have two stipules at the base : the corolla is large, broad 

 bell-form, deep blue ; the segments short, and moderately acumi- 

 nate. It is a perennial plant, native of most parts of the continent 

 of Europe, flowering in June and July. 



There are varieties with single blue and white flowers, and with 

 double blue and white flowers. 



The second species, as it appears in the garden, has thick tube- 

 rous roots, which are milky; these send out three or four strong, 

 smooth, upright stalks, which rise near four feet high, and are gar- 

 nished with smooth oblong leaves, whose edges are a little indented: 

 the lower leaves are much broader than those on the stalks: the 

 flowers are produced from the side of the stalks, and are regularly 

 set on for more than half their length, forming a sort of pyramid; 

 these are large, open, and shaped like a bell, and mostly of a light- 

 blue colour. 



There are varieties with white flowers and with double flowers. 



The third affords a milky juice when wounded: the root is whit- 

 ish and perennial ; the stems herbaceous, annual, weak, hardly 

 branching, bearing one or very few flowers. In gardens it becomes 

 branching and many-flowered. The root-leaves are kidney-form, 

 roundish; the peduncle elongated and smooth; the corolla blue. 

 It flowers the whole summer, and is a native of the Carpathian 

 Alps. 



According to Mr. Curtis, it is still scarce in gardens, but deserves 

 to be more known and cultivated : its flowers are in proportion to 

 the plant, being large and showy. 



The fourth species has the stem three feet high and more, angu- 



