136 BRECK'S BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



ing perennial, with yellow flowers all the season, suitable for 

 rock-work, or hanging from a pot in a northern exposure ; a 

 number of the indigenous species are worth cultivating. 



LYTHRUM. 



Willow Herb. 



Lythrum, from the Greek, black blood ; in allusion to the 

 color of the flowers. 



L. salicaria is a native British perennial, and is considered a 

 handsome border flower ; three or four feet high, with purple 

 flowers in July and August ; leaves opposite, cordate, lanceo- 

 late ; flowers in spikes. 



MALVA. 



Mallows. 



Some of the species are showy plants. All the species 

 are of the easiest cultivation. 



M. alcea. A pretty, hardy perennial, from Germany, with 

 purple flowers from July to October ; three feet high ; easily 

 propagated by seed or divisions of the roots. 



Varieties of the same, with pink and white flowers ; lower 

 leaves angular; upper, five-parted, cut; stems and calyxes 

 velvety. 



MONARDA. 

 . Tall Balm. 



Monarda, in honor of Nicholas Monardez, a physician 

 of Seville in the 16th century. Most of the species are aro- 

 matic, and resemble mint in their habits and mode of cu' 

 ture. 



