238 ROCK GARDENING FOR AMATEURS 



The seedlings may either be potted up singly in small 

 pots or pricked out into shallow boxes, there to stop 

 until they are large enough for planting out into the 

 permanent quarters for flowering. Apart from M. cam- 

 brica, of which there are some varieties with beautiful 

 double flowers, the following are the best. M. aculeata is a 

 Himalayan kind, growing two feet high, with prickly, 

 sinuate leaves and large blue flowers, about three inches 

 in diameter, in May. The beauty of the flower is further 

 enhanced by the ring of yellow stamens, which have 

 blue filaments. M. grandis is a rare plant from Sikkim, 

 with tufts of long narrow leaves, and purplish flowers on 

 stems about one foot high. For seeds of M. integrifolia 

 Mr. E. H. Wilson made a special journey for Messrs. 

 Veitch and Sons to the borders of Tibet. When first 

 shown in flower in 1905 this beautiful novelty excited 

 much admiration. From a tuft of long narrow leaves, 

 covered with hairs, the stout stems arise, bearing several 

 large primrose-yellow flowers, often from eight to ten 

 inches in diameter. M. nepalensis, from the Himalayan 

 district, is a tall-growing plant, with beautiful foliage, 

 and bears claret- coloured flowers in June. M. paniculata 

 is a handsome kind, with yellow drooping flowers. M. 

 punicea is another introduction from the borders of Tibet, 

 with similar foliage to M. integrifolia, but with drooping 

 scarlet flowers singly on stems about eighteen inches 

 high. M. racemosa is a pretty plant with entire leaves 

 and blue flowers with irregular petals. M. sinuata var. 

 latifolia is similar in habit to M. aculeata, but has more 



