DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF THE BEST KINDS 249 



as well as one of the easiest to grow ; native of 

 the Alps of Southern Europe. In deep and rich 

 soil it will reach nearly a foot in height, with glaucous 

 leaves, and large white flowers over an inch across 

 in May. R. glacialis (the Glacier Crowfoot) is one 

 of the fairest of mountain plants, though rare and 

 very choice, that is found among the debris of glacial 

 moraines in the European Alps. The whole plant is 

 only about four inches high, with fleshy, dark green, 

 deeply divided leaves, and white flowers in June or July ; 

 these are often suffused with pink, especially on the 

 underside. It must be planted in a cool situation, in 

 open, gritty loam, where it gets perfect drainage, but 

 plenty of water when growing. R. gramineus, an attrac- 

 tive kind, with grass-like foliage, and stems about a foot 

 high, bearing bright yellow flowers in spring, is an 

 easy plant to grow in any good soil. It is native of 

 Southern France and Spain. R. montanus : this has 

 been described as a refined and dwarf form of the native 

 Crowfoot, with much larger flowers. It is well worth 

 growing for its freedom in flowering during May and 

 June, as it is easy to manage. R. parnassifolius : this 

 plant inhabits the high alpine regions of the Alps and 

 Pyrenees, and is remarkable for its thick, entire heart- 

 shaped leaves. The flowers are pure white and large, 

 and produced several on a stem six inches high in June. 

 It is one of the most charming of the family, and may 

 be grown in moist and gritty, loamy soil. As for all 

 the others, moisture is essential during growth. R. 



