OLD-FASHIONED GARDEN FLOWERS. 85 



about one-fourth the size ; the calyx is five-parted ; the corolla 

 has five stout petals inserted in the tube of calyx ; they are well 

 reflexed and rather twisted ; their colour is purplish-lilac, but at 

 the base of the petals there is a rich blending of maroon and 

 yellow. The seed organs are very long, compact, and pointed, 

 giving the appearance of shooting stars. The flowers are arranged 

 in fine clusters on a scape more than a foot high, each flower 

 having a rather long, wiry, and gracefully bending pedicel ; all 

 of them spring from one centre. The leaves are radical, oblong, 

 smooth, dented, and wavy, about Sin. long and nearly Sin. broad. 



D. M. albiflorum I do not grow, but from what I remember of 

 it, it differs from the above only in being less vigorous and 

 in having white flowers. 



D. M. elegans. Shorter and broader in leaf, and roundly 

 toothed ; flower stems shorter, umbels more numerously flowered, 

 bloom deeper in colour. 



D. M. giganteum has a very large leaf, much larger than 

 the typical form of the species, and of a pale green colour, and in 

 all other respects it is larger, being also more than a week earlier 

 in flower. 



Flowering period, April to June. 



Dondia Epipactis. 



Syns. ASTRANTIA EPIPACTIS and HACQTJETIA EPIPACTIS ; 

 Nat. Ord. UMBELLIFER^E. 



THIS is a little gem, perhaps rather overdone with too many big 

 names ; still, this choice, hardy, herbaceous perennial is worth 

 knowing by all its titles. Never more than Gin. high, its singular 

 flowers are very attractive ; they spring from the ground almost 

 abruptly, are greenish-yellow and leafy in appearance in fact, 

 what at first sight might seem to be the petals are really but 

 whorled bracts, which embrace the tiny umbels of flowers. Soon 

 after the flowers the leaves begin to appear, unfolding like many 

 of the anemones, each one springing from the root only; they 

 also are of a peculiar colour and shape, being three-lobed and 

 finely notched. 



It will stand any amount of rough weather, always having a 

 fresh appearance when above ground. It forms a choice speci- 

 men for pot culture in cold frames or amongst select rock plants ; 

 it should be grown in mostly vegetable mould, as peat or leaf 

 mould, and have a moist position. Not only is it a slow-growing 

 subject, but it is impatient of being disturbed ; its propagation 

 should therefore only be undertaken in the case of strong and 

 healthy clumps, which are best divided before growth commences 

 in February. 



Flowering period, April and May. 



