190 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



[PART II. 



Cistus formosus (Beautiful Rock Rose). 

 - Much-branched, bushy shrub, with 

 leaves greenish when old, but whitish when 

 young, and large bright yellow flowers 

 with a deep purplish-brown blotch near 

 the base of each petal. The plant thrives 

 well in any rich, dry soil, but is apt to 

 succumb in severe English winters. It is, 

 however, such a beautiful plant, that it- 

 is well worth the trouble of putting in a 

 pot of cuttings each autumn in a cold 

 irame, planting these out in the open the 

 following spring. If raised from seeds, 



young shoots and flower-stalks are hairy, 

 as are the leaves on both surfaces ; the 

 flowers whitish, smaller than those of G. 

 glaucous, and the style is shorter than the 

 stamens. South- Western Europe. 



Cistus ladaniferus (Gum Cistus}. This 

 is one of the most beautiful of all the 

 Cistuses; the leaves, smooth and glossy 

 above, clothed with a dense white wool 

 beneath. The very large flowers are 

 white, in the more handsome forms with 

 a large dark vinous-red blotch towards 

 the base of each petal ; in others without 



Cistns formosus. 



some variation in the colour results. I 

 find it does well on the top of dry walls. 



C. glaucus. A much-branched bush, 1 

 to 2 feet in height, with reddish-brown 

 bark ; the upper surface of the leaves is 

 dull green, glossy, and glabrous, the lower 

 strongly veined and clothed with a hoary 

 down. The flowers are large, white with 

 a yellow blotch at the base of each petal, 

 and the very short style is much exceeded 

 by the stamens. Southern France. 



C. hirsutus (Hairy Rock Rose), is a 

 shrub from 1 to 3 feet in height; the 



blotch. It also varies in the size of the 

 leaves, the extreme forms having narrow, 

 almost linear leaves. 



0. laurifolius (Bush Rock Rose). This 

 is the hardiest Rock Rose'; in some 

 southern shrubberies large plants exist, 

 which have withstood many winters. 

 The flowers are less than those of 

 C. ladaniferus, are white with a small 

 citron-yellow blotch at the base of each 

 petal. It requires no protection, and 

 may be raised from seeds, which ripen 

 in abundance, and also by cuttings, which, 



