Herbaceous Plants 



285 



bouquets and arranging with all kinds of flowers. It is also 

 used to produce a mist-like effect in flower borders. The 

 plant is perfectly hardy in open, rather dry places. The 

 scientific name means gypsum-loving, because it likes cal- 

 careous soils. Other species, G. cerastioides and G. repens, 

 are excellent for rock work. 



FIG. 163. Paeonia Albiflora. 



Peony (Pceonia), Fig. 163. The peonies belong to two 

 distinct groups, the shrubby or tree peonies and the her- 

 baceous species. The tree peony (P. moutan) produces a 

 woody stem which annually increases until the plant attains 

 a height of 3 or 4 feet. The flowers are more delicately 

 shaded than the herbaceous varieties. Although considered 

 hardy, the plants are benefited by a wrapping of rye straw 

 or a covering of pine boughs. The herbaceous peonies 



