PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



267 



what like those of the Dandelion, but of 

 a greyish tone ; the flowers several inches 

 across, white, changing to pale delicate 

 rose -as they become older. The plant is 

 quite perennial, but on some cold soils 

 perishes in winter. Where it does so, 

 it should be raised annually from seed. 

 It will thrive in almost any garden soil, 

 best in one rich and deep, and may be 

 used with the best result as a drooping 

 plant in the rock-garden borders. Plants 

 raised in early spring and pricked over 

 bare surfaces of rose-beds, flower well the 

 first year. A native of Chili, flowering 

 all the summer and autumn, and seldom 

 more than 6 inches above the ground. 



OMPHALODES LUCILI^.-A 



seldom seen and charming plant, with 

 very glaucous smooth leaves, in hue 

 resembling those of the Oyster-plant, 

 and with flowers of a light sky-blue, 

 with a faint stain of something akin 

 to the palest lilac. A native of Mount 

 Taurus, doing best in sunny parts of 

 the rock-garden, in free gritty soil. 

 Slugs often destroy it. 



Omphalodes verna (Creeping Forget-me- 

 not). Like a Forget-me-not, with hand- 

 some deep blue flowers with white throats, 

 in early spring. A native of mountain 

 woods on several of the great continental 

 chains, and precious for the rock and every 

 other kind of garden. Easily increased by 

 division. Tufts of it taken up and gently 

 forced in midwinter form beautiful 

 objects in baskets. 



ONONIS ARVENSIS (Best-harrow). 

 One of the prettiest of our wild 

 plants, and well worthy of cultivation 

 on banks. It is a variable plant, 

 forming dense spreading tufts, clammy 

 to the touch, and covered with pink 

 flowers in summer. There is a white 

 variety even more valuable. No 

 plants can be more readily increased 

 from seed or by division. This plant 

 is distinct from the spiny Ononis cam- 

 pestris, which forms stems nearly 2 feet 

 high, sometimes even more. 



Ononis rotundifolia , (Round-leaved Rest- 

 harrow). This species is easily known by 

 its large and handsome rose-coloured 

 flowers, with the upper petal or standard 

 veined with crimson. It is a distinct 

 and pretty plant, hardy, and easily culti- 

 vated, flowering in May and June and 

 through the summer. It attains a height 

 of from 12 to 20 inches, according to soil 

 and position, increasing in height as the 

 season advances. It is suitable for the 

 rougher parts of the rock-garden ; comes 

 from the Pyrenees and Alps of Europe, 

 and is easily propagated by seeds or 

 division. 



0. Arragonensis is a distinct species 

 from Spain, a recent introduction. 



ONOSMA TAURICUM (Golden 

 Drop). A handsome evergreen per- 

 ennial from 6 inches to 12 inches high, 

 forming a dense tuft, and bearing in 

 summer drooping clusters of clear 

 yellow, almond-scented blossoms. 

 The best place for growing it is the 

 rock-garden, in which provision is 

 made for a good depth of soil, so 

 that the plants may root strongly 

 between the blocks of stone. The 

 soil should be a good sandy loam, 

 mixed with broken grit, and the plant 

 placed between large blocks of stone, 

 near which the roots ramify and are 

 kept cool and moist. The tops of 

 dry walls also suit this very fine rock 

 perennial. 



OPHRYS (Bee Orchis). These small 

 terrestrial Orchids are singularly beauti- 

 ful, and among the most curious of 

 plants. There have been many in 

 cultivation, but being chiefly from 

 South Europe and not hardy, they 

 must have protection, and then can 

 be grown only with great attention. 

 There are, however, a few native 

 species that can be grown. Of these, 

 one of the most singularly beautiful 

 is the Bee Orchis (0. apifera). It 

 varies from 6 inches to more than 



