MELIANTHUS. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. MELITTIS. 



567 



delicate mauve petals and a purple 

 centre, are borne on spikes from 

 5 inches to 6 inches long. It is a 

 half-hardy plant hardy, perhaps, in 

 favoured districts. 



Meconopsis Wallichi. 



MELIANTHUS (Cape Honey 

 Flower] . An effective half-hardy plant 

 for the summer ; M. major having 

 finely-cut, large, glaucous leaves con- 

 trasting effectively with the garden 

 vegetation, and being of the easiest 

 cultivation, it has become a favourite 

 in sub - tropical gardening. Plants 



raised from seed early in the season 

 make good growth by planting-out 

 time, and by midsummer attain a 

 height of 3 to 4 feet. S. Africa. 



MELIOSMA CUNEIFOLIA. The 



genus Meliosma was probably repre- 

 sented by one species only in British 

 gardens previous to Mr E. H. Wilson's 

 plant- collecting journeys to China, 

 that species being M. myriantha, which 

 was introduced by Maries in 1879. 

 There are now several species available, 

 all of them handsome decorative 

 bushes, both as regards foliage and 

 flowers. M. cuneifolia is more like the 

 older M. myriantha than the other new 

 species, for it has somewhat similar 

 simple leaves, which are up to 7 inches 

 long and 3 inches wide, with prominent 

 veins. The flowers are small and 

 alternately creamy- white and white. 

 They are borne in long terminal 

 panicles, sometimes 9 inches long and 

 6 inches through, and are fragrant. 

 In a wild state it forms a large tree, 

 but in this country so far it is only a 

 well-branched shrub which flowers 

 freely every summer. The leaves have 

 regular pinnate nerves, marginal teeth, 

 and a dark green glossy surface ; but 

 they are smaller, the largest being 

 about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide. 

 The flowers are in effect like those of 

 some of the Sumachs. 



M. VEITCHIORUM. Has noble pinnate 

 leaves each 2 feet or more long, with five 

 pairs of leaflets and a terminal odd one, 

 the largest being 6 inches long and 3 inches 

 wide ; the rachis and principal nerves 

 dark red, the other parts a rich green. 

 It forms a fairly large tree, not unlike a 

 Walnut, and the panicles of small white 

 flowers are said to be 18 inches long and 

 very decorative. The young shoots are 

 stout with smooth bark, and the leaves, 

 when they first develop, are dark crimson. 



MELISSA (Common Balm}. M. 

 officinalis is a well-known old garden 

 plant, 2 to 3 feet high, emitting a 

 grateful odour when bruised. It may 

 be naturalised in any soil. Division. 

 Europe. 



MELITTIS (Bastard Balm). M. 

 Melissophyllum is a distinct plant of 

 the Salvia order, with one to three 

 flowers about i inches long in May. 

 The handsome purple lip reminds one 

 of some Orchids. M. grandiflora is a 

 slight variety, differing in colour from 

 the normal form. The plant is dis- 

 tinct, and merits a place by shady 

 wood walks, as it naturally inhabits 

 woods, 'Woody spots near a fernery 



