184 HARDY PERENNIALS AND 



that it was so recently introduced into this country as 1825 ; 

 it came from Peru. Fortunately this charming exotic proves 

 perfectly hardy in our climate ; it is also herbaceous and peren- 

 nial. No garden ought to be without so easily grown a flower, 

 and though its foliage much resembles that of the common 

 dandelion, a fine mass of it proves no mean setting for the large 

 white flowers which spring from the midst of it. Another 

 pleasing feature in connection with the flowers is that for a day 

 they are pure white, after which they partly close and turn to a 

 scarcely less beautiful delicate flesh tint. This colour and the 

 half closed form are retained for several days ; it exhales a sweet 

 odour, about which there is a peculiarity. When newly opened 

 the first night while the flowers are white, they will be found 

 to have a grateful scent like tea roses; but if the older and 

 coloured blooms are tried, they will be found to have the re- 

 freshing smell of almonds. 



There is yet another curious trait about this lovely flower 

 it has a long stalk-like tube, which may be called the flower stalk, 

 as, so to speak, it has no other, and the lower part it being 4in. 

 to Gin. long is inclined to squareness, but near the top it becomes 

 round and widens into the divisions of the calyx, being, in fact, 

 the tube or undivided part of the calyx. Let the reader carefully 

 examine this interesting flower. First pluck it with all its length 

 of stem or tube (it may be Gin. long); with a small knife or 

 needle split it upwards, and there will be exposed the style of 

 a corresponding length. The tube and segments of the calyx are 

 of a pale green colour, segments an inch or more long, finely 

 pointed ; the four petals are large, nearly round, and overlapping 

 each other, forming a corolla more than Sin. across; they are 

 satiny in appearance, and transparent, beautifully veined or 

 nerved, the nerves having delicate green basements, from which 

 spring stamens of a like colour, but with anthers |in. long, 

 evenly balanced, and furnished with lemon-yellow pollen. The 

 leaves are herb-like, and, as the common name implies, like 

 the leaves of the dandelion, similar in size, but more cut or lobed. 

 The plant, however, varies materially from the dandelion, in 

 having stems which push out all round the crown, growing to a 

 considerable length, and resting on the ground. 



This plant cannot well be grown in too large quantities, where 

 there is plenty of room; it produces flowers for a long time, 

 and they are highly serviceable for cutting purposes, though 

 lasting only a short time. It cannot well be planted wrong as 

 regards position, as it will thrive anywhere, providing the soil is 

 enriched, it being a gross feeder; it should not, however, be 

 planted where it will be likely to overgrow smaller and less 

 rampant subjects. On the whole, it is one of those plants which 

 afford a maximum of pleasure for a minimum of care, and needs 

 no special culture in fact, takes care of itself. Its propagation 



