38 



HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



and its large bright purple flowers seem disproportionate. This 

 is one of the plants which should have a place in every garden, 

 and more especially in rock gardens. There cannot well be a 

 more neat and telling subject ; the form and size of its flowers 

 are not often seen on such dwarf plants, and it also has the 

 merit of being a " tidy " subject when not in bloom. The illus- 

 tration (Fig. 18) will give a fair idea of its main features. Its 

 purple flowers, which are fully 2in. across, have for many days 

 an even and well-expanded ray, when the florets curl or reflex ; 



FIG 18 ASTER ALPINTTS. 

 (One-third natural size.) 



the disk is large, and numerously set with lemon-yellow florets ; 

 the flowers are well lifted up on stout round stems, covered with 

 short stiff hairs, and furnished with five or six small leaves ; the 

 main foliage is of compact growth, lance-shaped, entire, 

 spathulate and covered with short hairs. 



Considering that this plant has been in English gardens for 

 220 years, and that its merits must be seen by anyone at a glance, 

 it is hard to say why it is not better known ; even in choice and 

 large collections it always proves attractive when in flower. The 



