12 LAVATERA LEDUM 



leafy racemes, some clustered in leaf-axils. Each flower is ij ins. across, 

 enclosed at first by a large, woolly, three-lobed involucre or epicalyx; 

 calyx five-cleft ; petals five, broadly wedge-shaped, pale purple-red, marked 

 at the base with a patch of dark purple veins. 



Native of S. Europe, this handsome plant is also found wild in Great 

 Britain. It inhabits maritime situations on the south and west coasts 

 from Hampshire to the Isle of Man, and occurs either naturalised or wild 

 on Ailsa Craig, the Bass Rock, and other places on the coasts of Scotland. 

 It is worth cultivating in the warmer parts of the kingdom, especially near 

 the sea, its abundant seed making it easy of increase. It is chiefly known 

 in inland gardens by var. VARIEGATA, whose leaves are handsomely 

 marked with white. This form must be propagated by cuttings. 



The genus commemorates two physicians and naturalists of Zurich, 

 named Lavater. 



LEDUM. ERICACEAE. 



A small genus of evergreen shrubs, with alternate, short-stalked leaves 

 and white flowers, produced in terminal roundish clusters. Calyx teeth 

 five ; corolla of five distinct, spreading petals ; stamens from five to eleven, 

 with the anthers opening by two apertures at the top. Seed-vessel a 

 capsule, with five divisions which separate from the base upwards. 



L. latifolium and L. palustre inhabit moors and swampy districts in 

 high northern latitudes, and like a peaty soil or sandy loam free from 

 lime. They can be propagated by seeds, treated as recommended for 

 heaths, also by layers and cuttings. No success has hitherto been 

 achieved with L. glandulosum, and its reintroduction is desirable. 



L. GLANDULOSUM, Nuttall. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 7610.) 



An evergreen bush, said to become as much as 6 ft. high in its native home. 

 Leaves oval or ovate, ^ to 2 ins. long, to f in. wide ; dark green above, 

 whitish and smooth beneath except for a covering of minute glistening scales ; 

 stalk \ to J in. long. Flowers white, \ in. across, produced during May in a 

 terminal cluster about 2 ins. across. Petals cupped, obovate, spreading ; 

 sepals minute, rounded, hairy on the margin ; stalks \ to I in. long, and, like 

 the calyx and ovary, covered with tiny, scale-like glands. 



Native of Western N. America ; originally discovered by Douglas in 1826. 

 A batch of plants was raised at Kew in 1894 from native seed, which grew 

 and flowered very well a few years later. For some indiscernible reason the 

 plants died one by one until none was left. It would appear as if some 

 peculiar condition were wanting necessary for its existence, and some 

 knowledge of its native habitats is desirable. The species is possibly no 

 longer in cultivation. It is easily distinguished from the two following species 

 by its smooth stems and leaves. 



L. LATIFOLIUM, Alton. LABRADOR TEA. 

 (L. groenlandicum, Oeder.*) 



An evergreen shrub, 2 to 3 ft. high and as much in diameter : branches 

 erect, clothed when young with more or less rust-coloured wool. Leaves 



