174 



HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



Melittis Melissophyllum. 

 8yn. M. GRANDIFLORTJM ; LARGE-FLOWERED BASTARD BALM; 



Nat. Ord. LABIATE. 



THIS is a somewhat uncommon but handsome native plant. 

 The above names, together with the illustration (Fig. 63), will 



FIG. 63. MELITTIS MELISSOPHYLLUM. 

 (One-sixth natural size.) 



-doubtless give the reader a fair idea of its appearance. It forms 

 one of the best possible subjects for a border of " old-fashioned " 

 plants, being of a distinct type and colour. 



The flowers are a mixture of white, pink, and purple ; and are 

 nearly 2in. long, in general shape resembling the foxglove, but 

 wider at the corolla and a little shorter in the broad tube. They 

 .are arranged in whorls springing from the axils of the leaves. 

 The whorls are said to be of as many as eight flowers, but speci- 

 mens are more commonly seen to have only two to four, being 

 repeated the whole length of the stems, which are 18in. high. 

 'The leaves are two to three inches long, and half as broad, 

 ovate, serrate, hairy, and short stalked. No one can be other- 

 wise than pleased with the ancient style and soft colour of the 

 large flowers, which last a long time in perfection. There is a 



