ERYTHR/EA. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. ERYTHRONIUM. 569 



soms. E. canescens, a South European 

 species with scentless yellow flowers, is 

 also a neat alpine, and so is E. rupcstre, 

 which is desirable for the rock-garden. 

 All of them are easy to grow, and delight 

 in gritty soil and a well-drained and sunny 

 position on the rock-garden. Among 

 the biennial and annual kinds the best 

 is E. Perofskianum, i to \\ ft. high, 

 with dense racemes of orange-yellow 

 flowers. For early flowering it should 

 be sown in autumn, and again in March 

 and April for later bloom. E. arkansanum 

 and pachycarpum are similar to E. Perof- 

 skiaintm. 



ERYTHRJEA (Centaury). Pretty 

 dwarf biennials belonging to the Gentian 

 family. E. Httoralis, common in some 

 shore districts, is worth cultivating. It 

 is 4 to 6 in. high, and bears an abundance 

 of rich pink flowers, which last a consider- 

 able time in beauty. The very beautiful 

 E. dijfusa is a similar species. It is a 

 rapid grower, with a profusion of pink 

 blossoms in summer. 



E. Muhlenbergi is a beautiful plant 

 about 8 in. high, putting out many 

 slender branches. It bears many flowers, 

 the blossoms 3^ in. across, of a deep 

 pink, with a greenish-white star in the 

 centre. Seeds should be sown in autumn, 

 and well grown till the spring ; the plants 

 will then flower earlier and produce 

 finer flowers than spring -sown plants. 

 They are excellent for the rock-garden 

 and the margins of a loamy border. 

 The soil must be moist. 



The native kind and its forms are 

 pretty in the fields and shores, and the 

 plants so far rarely have a place in 

 gardens. 



ERYTHRINA (Coral Tree]. These 

 beautiful trees are pretty general through 

 the tropics. Some attain great dimensions, 

 while others are dwarf bushes with woody 

 root-stocks. Many produce beautiful large 

 Pea flowers, usually of a blood-red or 

 scarlet colour, in terminal racemes. The 

 varieties have proved very hardy and use- 

 ful in the summer garden, flowering freely 

 and showing considerable beauty of foli- 

 age. E. ornata, Marie Belanger, lauri- 

 folia, Crista-galli, profusa, Madame Be- 

 langer, ruberrima, and Hendersoni, have 

 stood out with slight protection. E. 

 Crista-galli will thrive for years against a 

 warm south wall in a light soil, if 

 protected about the roots in winter. 



ERYTHRONIUM (Dog's-tooth Violet}. 

 Liliaceous bulbs, among the loveliest of 

 our hardy flowers, with many species 

 and varieties of interest and high garden 

 value on soils that suit them. These 



belong to N. America, with the exception 

 of 



E. Dens-canis, a beautiful plant found 

 in various parts of Europe. It has hand- 

 some oval leaves, with patches of reddish- 

 brown ; the rosy-purple or lilac flowers 

 are borne singly on stems 4 to 6 in. high, 

 and droop gracefully. One variety has 

 white flowers, one rose-coloured, and one 

 flesh-coloured. E. longifolium has longer 

 and narrower leaves and larger flowers, 

 and the sorts enumerated in catalogues 

 under the name of majus are apparently 

 derived from this variety. E. Dens-canis 

 thrives in moist sandy or peaty soil, when 

 fully exposed to the sun. It is most 

 valuable for the spring or rock-garden, or 

 for a border of choice hardy bulbs, and, 



Eryngium Oliverianum. 



where it is sufficiently plentiful, for 

 edgings to American plants in peat soil. 

 The bulbs are white and oblong, re- 

 sembling a dog's tooth, hence its name. 

 It is increased by dividing the bulbs 

 every two or three years, and replant- 

 ing rather deeply. Central Europe. There 

 are now many varieties, white, purple, 

 rose, and violet. 



E. americanum (Yellow A rider's - 

 tongue] is common in the woods of the 

 E. States of N. America. Its pale 

 green leaves are mottled, and commonly 

 dotted with purple and white. Flowers 

 i in. across, pale yellow, and spotted 

 near the base ; on slender stalks 6 to 9 

 in. high in May. A variety (E. bractea- 



