296 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



[PART II. 



rge, 



and double, and resemble a miniature 

 double white Camellia. A rich, moist 

 soil will be found to suit it best on the 

 shady side of the rock-garden, and among 

 bog-loving shrubs. 



Ranunculus alpestris (Alpine Butter- 

 cup), A diminutive species, from 1 inch to 

 3 inches or 4 inches high, and forming neat 

 tufts, each stem bearing from one to three 

 white flowers in April. The leaves are of a 

 dark glossy green, roundish-heart-shaped, 

 and deeply divided. It is a native of most 

 of the great mountain ranges of Europe, in 

 moist, rocky places on the higher pastures, 

 and one of the best plants for the rock- 

 garden. It is not difficult to grow in 

 moist, sandy, or gritty soil, in positions 

 exposed to the sun and moist in summer. 



R. Traunfellneri seems to be a dimin- 

 utive of the preceding, the whole plant, 

 even as we have observed it in cultivation, 

 being not more than 1 inch high. The 

 same treatment will suit it ; but, being 

 smaller, it will require a little more care 

 in selecting some firm spot fully exposed 

 to the sun and air, but kept moist with a 

 surfacing of grit, sand, or small stones, 

 till the plant grows into a little spreading 

 tuft. 



R. bilobus is another form from S. 

 Tyrol. 



R. anemonoides, a native of the Alps 

 of Styria and the Southern Tyrol, is. 

 a handsome species, with bluish-green 

 leaves ; flowers large, with numerous 

 divisions, of a greenish-white on the in- 

 side and pink on the outside, appearing 

 before the leaves, and very early. It does 

 best in the rock-garden in a cool place, 

 and in moist, porous soil. 



R. "bullatus (Marigold Buttercup). 

 A dwarf stout perennial, easy to cultivate, 

 with showy double flowers, the blossoms 

 as large as those of the double Marsh 

 Marigold. The plant thrives in heavy 

 soil. Division of the roots. 



R. crenatus. A native of granitic 

 mountains in Styria, with roundish 

 leaves, the flowers* large, white, two or 

 three together at the extremity of stem, 

 3 inches or 4 inches high in April or May. 

 It does well in the rock-garden in gritty 

 or open soil. 



Ranunculus glacialis (Arctic Butter- 

 cup). A well-named plant, as it is an in- 

 habitant of very high places on the Alps, 

 and may often be seen in flower near the 

 snow and in the Arctic regions. The 

 flowers are large, white-tinted, of a dull 

 purplish-rose on the outside ; the calyx 

 with shaggy brownish hairs, the leaves 

 smooth, deeply cut, and of a dark green. 

 It will thrive in a cool spot in deep, 

 gritty soil, moist during the warm months. 

 I have seen it thriving with its roots 

 below stones. On the Alps it blooms in 

 early summer ; in our gardens somewhat 

 earlier. It is easily raised from seed, and 

 in its native habitat spreads about freely. 

 This is the plant which Mr Ruskin met 

 with high up among the icy rocks, near 

 the margins of the snowy solitude of the 

 Alps, and which pleased him so much 

 there. It is often washed down by the 

 rock streams, and found in the river flats. 



R. gramineus (Grassy Buttercup). A 

 graceful plant, which may well represent 

 on the rock-garden the beauty of some of 

 the taller kinds that are too vigorous for 

 it. Easily known by its Grass-like leaves, 

 6 inches to 12 inches high. The flowers 

 in May are yellow. There is a double 

 variety, but it is seldom seen. Southern 

 Europe. Division. An easily-grown plant. 



R. Lyallii (Rockivood Lily). Dr 

 Hooker calls this plant the "most noble 

 species of the genius " " the Water Lily 

 of the shepherds." Indeed, even in the 

 dried specimens, of which there are many 

 in the Kew herbarium, the resemblance 

 to our common white Water Lily is 

 striking. The plant is said to grow in 

 moist places in the Southern Alps, the 

 Wurumui Mountains, in the glacier 

 regions of the Forbes River, near Otago, 

 and elsewhere in the Middle Island of 

 New Zealand, at heights of from 1000 

 feet to 5000 feet above the sea. In habit 

 it seems almost identical with our Marsh 

 Marigold, but it is twice or thrice larger. 

 The leaves are circular, 12 inches to 15 

 inches in diameter peltate, as in the 

 Nelumbium, the flowers borne in panicles ; 

 each flower of the purest waxy-white 

 colour, 3 inches to 4 inches across. To 

 raise a stock it has been recommended 

 that the seed be sown in well-drained pans 



