320 Iberbaceous plants. 



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

 leaves pinnatifid ; flowers rosy-lilac in 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 THE COMPOSITE FAMILY. 



SUCCICA). 



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 Cyanus. A handsome annual a 

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

 heads of bright blue flowers in summer. There are several 



o 



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, C. 

 mosdiata. Annual with lyrate leaves and purplish flowers. 

 A yellow-flowered species with sweet-scented flowers ((7. 

 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 



