140 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Aster continued. 



florets finely imbricated, and filled up to the centre when quite 



open. The colours are of great brilliancy, and of many shades. 



A 2ft. 

 Pompone Goliath.* Flower-heads globular, and florets very 



closely set. Valuable for bouquets, as the flowers remain intact 



for a considerable time. 

 Pyramidal Hedgehog. Singular and unique. Stems upright, 



and branched ; each branch terminated by a single flower-head, 



which is filled up with quill-like florets. Colours various. 



h. lift. 

 Truffaut's Pseony Perfection.* Vigorous upright growers, 



having large, hemispherical-formed heads of flowers with incurved 



florets, 4in. across. The colours also are very varied, h. about 



2ft. See Figs. 183 and 184. 



FIG. 185. VICTORIA ASTER. 



st popul 



heads very double, imbricate, globular, 4in. in diameter, from 

 ten to twenty on a plant, of various shades, h. 1ft., with a 

 pyramidal habit See Fig. 185. 



ASTERACANTHA (from aster, a star, and acantha, 

 a Bpine ; referring to the disposition of the spinea). OBD. 

 Acanthacea. A handsome greenhouse herbaceous perennial, 

 of easy culture in sandy loam. It should be grown in a 

 sunny position, and be kept moderately dry, otherwise little 

 but foliaceous growth will be produced ; but, if thus treated, 

 it flowers freely. Propagated by divisions in spring; or 

 by seeds, sown in August. 



A. Ipnglfolia (long-leaved), ft. yellow.in dense axillary fascicles. 

 July. j. lanceolate, tapering to the base, narrow, sessile, serrately 

 Stem quadrangular. Plant rather hairy. A. 2ft. India, 



, 

 July. j. lanceolate, tapering 



1781 



ASTERACEX. See Composite. 



ASTEROCEPHALUS. See Scabiosa. 



ASTILBE (from a, without, and stilbe, brilliancy ; in al- 

 lusion to the inconspicuous flowers of some of the species). 

 ORD. Saxifrayeae. Tall branching herbs, with triternate 

 or biternate leaves, allied to Spiraea, from which they differ 

 in having not more than three carpels, eight or ten stamens, 

 and numerous albuminous seeds. They are all more or less 

 graceful,* and some indispensable, either when grown in 

 isolated clumps, or intermingled with other herbaceous 

 plants. They thrive well in almost any rich garden soil, 

 preferring damp positions, and are easily propagated by 

 division, which is best done in early spring. A. japonica 

 is grown very extensively for decorative purposes, its ele- 

 gant spikes of pure white flowers rendering it especially 



As bilbe continued. 



valuable. The majority of the plants cultivated are im- 

 ported, but they may be grown fairly well in this country 

 in heavily manured soil. They should be potted as early 

 as possible in the autumn, and plunged in ashes or fibre 

 outside, when they will soon commence to root, after which 

 they may be placed in heat, and forced as required, always 

 giving an abundance of water. Indeed, the pots may be 

 stood in pans of water, especially when the plants are well 

 furnished with growth. 



A. barbata (bearded). A synonym of A. japonica. 

 A. decandra (ten-stamened). fl. white, in spicate racemose 

 panicles. May. I. biternate ; leaflets cordate, deeply lobed and ser- 

 rated, glandular beneath, and on the petioles. h. 

 America, 1812. 



, and on the petioles, h. 2ft. to 3ft. North 



9K. 186. ASTILBE JAPONICA. 



L Japonica (Japanese).* fl. small, pure white, in large branch 

 ing racemose panicles. May. I. triternate or pinnate, serrated. 

 h. 1ft. to 2ft. Japan. This is best grown in pots, as early frosts 

 generally cut it down in the open air. SYNS. Spiraea barbata and 

 japonica, also Hoteia and A. barbata. See Fig. 186. 



A. J. varlegata (variegated).* I. prettily variegated with yellow ; 

 panicles much more dense than the type ; indeed, it is far superior 

 in that respect 





FIG. 187. ASTILBB RIVULARIS. 



A. rivularis (brook).* fl. yellowish-white, or reddish, in large 

 panicled spikes. Late summer. I. biternate ; leaflets ovate, doubly 

 serrated, villous beneath and on the petioles, h. 3ft. Nepaul. 

 A grand plant for the margins of lakes or damp woodlands. See 

 Fig. 187. 



A. rnbra (red).* fl. rose, very numerous, in dense panicles. Late 

 summer and autumn. I. biternate ; leaflets oblique, cordate, 

 lin. to 2in. long, with elongated, serrated points, h. 4ft. to 6ft. 

 India, 1851. A very pretty, but rare species ; excellent for aub- 

 tropical gardening. 



