HEPAT1CA HESPERIS. 123 



place in every collection, not so much for its flowers, which are 

 very pretty, but particularly for its " sea-green, dew-bespangled 

 leaves," which are universally admired, and peculiar to the 

 genus. The flowers are yellow or orange, and continue 

 through the season. It is a biennial, a native of the south of 

 Europe. 



" The whole plant abounds in a yellow juice." 

 G. luteum with yellow, and G. phosniccum with red flowers, 

 are annuals. 



HEPATICA. 



Early Anemone. 



Hepatica triloba. Three-lobed. This delicate little plant 

 is one of the earliest visitors in spring, flowering in sunny spots 

 before the snow has left the ground. The flowers are bluish- 

 purple, and sometimes white. The leaves are heart-shaped at 

 base, divided into three lobes. Found in open woods. It suc- 

 ceeds well in a shady place in the garden. There are some 

 lovely cultivated varieties, with double blue, red and white 

 flowers, but they are rarely seen in collections of plants. 



HESPERIS. 



Garden Rocket. 



Hesperis matrondtis. Dame's Violet. The single varieties 

 of this fragrant flower are common in most gardens. It is a 

 biennial or imperfect perennial, easily raised from seeds, pro- 

 ducing flowers the second year, on long spikes, in May and 

 June, of various shades, from pure white to purple ; three to four 

 feet high. Fine varieties may be perpetuated by divisions of 

 the root. Perfectly hardy. The double varieties of this flower 

 are superb, and highly esteemed for their fragrance and beauty. 



