GENTIANA 143 



soil, sending up stems eighteen inches high, bearing clusters 

 of blue flowers. The flowers are peculiar in that they 

 seldom open. 



G. asclepiadea (the Willow-leaved Gentian). One of 

 the most robust and long-lived kinds, making progress 

 for many years, and forming large tufts. Its home is 

 in South-eastern Europe. An ideal place for this plant 

 is an old, rough-built, shady wall, where the roots can 

 find their way between the stones. During July the long 

 stems, covered for the greater part of their length with 

 beautiful blue flowers, rise two feet high. It is difficult 

 to transplant on account of the long, fleshy roots ; it is 

 better to raise plants from seed than to divide old plants, 

 as the latter take a long time to recover. Seed is freely 

 produced, and germinates well when fresh, so that the 

 plant is easy to naturalise in such a position as described. 

 There is a variety with pretty white flowers. This Gentian 

 may also be grown in the bog garden or by the pool side. 



G. bavarica. One of the smallest species from the 

 European Alps, with Box-like leaves in dense tufts, and 

 beautiful blue flowers in July. It is a moisture-loving 

 plant, always growing in boggy places, where there is 

 plenty of moisture. Under such conditions it may be 

 kept for a time, but being found at a high elevation on 

 the mountains of Switzerland and elsewhere it is not 

 so easy to grow as G. verna. 



G. decumbens. This beautiful Himalayan plant 

 forms rosettes of long, strap-shaped leaves, and produces 

 decumbent stems, bearing at their tips clusters of charming 



