DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWEBS. 161 



CIMICIFTTGA. BUGBANE. 



[From the Greek, signifying to drive away bugs. A Siberian species being 

 used as a bugbane.] 



Cimicifuga racemosa, Black Snake-root. Black Co- 

 hosh. A native plant, not often seen in gardens, but 

 which, from its stately habit, is worth growing where there 

 is room for it. The leaves are large and much divided ; 

 the flower-stalk grows to the height of six or eight feet, 

 and produces numerous long spikes of small white flow- 

 ers. The root of this is one of the many things that have 

 had a reputation as antidotes for snake bites. This is 

 sometimes called Actcea racemosa ; the Actseas have ber- 

 ry-like fruit, while this has dry pods. Actcea spicata of 

 our woods, is rather showy for its fruit ; there are two 

 varieties, alba and rubra, with white and red berries, 

 which may find a place in large collections. 



CLARKIA. 



[Named in honor of Capt. Clark, who discovered it in his expedition, with 

 Capt. Lewis, to the Columbia river.] 



Clarkia pulclitflla. Beautiful Clarkia. A handsome 

 dwarf-plant, eight to twelve inches high, with beautiful 

 rose or light-purple flowers ; annual, as are all the species. 

 In bloom from July to September. If the seed is planted 

 in April or May it will succeed very well, but the plants 

 will be much stronger from seed sown in August or Sep- 

 tember. The young plants will stand the winter very 

 well, if protected with a few leaves. The soil should not 

 be over-rich or moist, as the plants frequently damp off if 

 so situated. In a good, rather light loam, it succeeds 

 best. The varieties of this species are numerous, viz. : 

 white, rose, lilac, with double varieties of the same : 

 Tom Thumb varieties, maryinata, etc., integripetala 

 Jimbriata and integripetala. 



