ERPETIOX. 



THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. 



ERYNGIUM. 



549 



are densely clothed with minute hairs. 

 It thrives best among the dwarfer alpine 

 plants, in warm positions, in deep sandy 

 or gravelly soil. 



E. Reichardi. A miniature species 2 

 to 3 in. high when in flower. The small 

 heart-shaped leaves lie close to the ground, 

 and form little tufts from which arise 

 slender stalks, each bearing a solitary 

 white flower, marked with delicate pink 

 veins. It often continues in flower for 

 many weeks. It should be grown in 

 gritty peat mixed with a small portion of 

 loam, like the Androsaces and Gentians. 



To the foregoing may be added : E. 

 caruifolium, 6 to 10 in. high ; flowers, 

 red, about ^ in. in diameter, and in 

 umbels of nine or ten blossoms. E. 

 alpinum, which resembles E. Manescavi, 

 but is much dwarfer, growing 6 to 8 in. 

 high, and flowering continuously from 

 spring to autumn. E. strictum is a fine 

 annual with deep azure-blue flowers from 

 India. E. romanum, allied to the British 

 E. cicutarium, but with larger flowers, 

 growing 6 to 9 in. high ; flowers, purplish, 

 appearing in spring and early summer. 

 E. trichomanefolium, a very pretty dwarf 

 kind, 4 to 6 in. high, with leaves so deeply 

 cut as to resemble a Fern ; flowers, flesh- 

 coloured, marked with darker veins. All 

 the preceding, with the exception of E. 

 Manescavi and E. hymenodes, are suited 

 for the rock-garden or borders, in light 

 sandy or calcareous loam. E. Manescavi 

 should, perhaps, be confined to the border, 

 as it is somewhat too tall and spreading for 

 the rock-garden. 



Erpetion. See VIOLA. 



ERYNGIUM (Sea Holly}. Handsome 

 perennials or biennials of the Parsley 

 order, but so unlike that class of plants in 

 general appearance as to be often mis- 

 taken for Thistles. For the garden, 

 whether the decoration of the border, or 

 rock-garden, or the lawn, few plants 

 yield a greater charm from the size and 

 colour of involucres and stems. The stems 

 are so singularly beautiful with their vivid 

 steel-blue tints, surmounted with an in- 

 volucre even more brilliant, that the effect 

 of good large groups is hardly excelled by 

 that of any plants that live in our climate. 

 The great diversity in the form of the 

 leaves is very interesting, ranging from 

 the great Pandanus-like foliage of E. 

 pandanifolium to the very small thistle- 

 like leaves of E. dichotomum. Those be- 

 longing to the Pandanus set, such as 

 E. Lasseauxi, eburneum, bromeliaefolium, 

 and others, are useful among fine-leaved 

 plants ; their leaves being mostly of a 

 thick succulent nature, are not liable to 



be damaged by the cold nights in early 

 autumn ; indeed, in all but very damp 

 places or -heavy soils they continue effec- 

 tive as regards foliage all through the 

 winter season. E. alpinum, Oliverianum, 

 giganteum, and the finer herbaceous species 

 are very useful for borders, and all are the 

 more valuable for this purpose owing to 

 the length of time they continue in bloom, 

 and for the longtime they retain their hand- 

 some blue tints. A good rich and well- 

 drained soil suits most of the species ; 

 damp carries off more of the tender species 

 during winter than cold. Protection is not 

 needed, as the Sea Hollies will stand any 

 exposure so long as the drainage is perfect. 

 E. alpinum may be made an exception to 

 the above directions, as in the south of 

 England at any rate it prefers a shady 

 spot in a good stiff soil. Much the same 

 treatment will also answer in the case of 

 E. Oliverianum. 



The only really safe way to increase 



these Sea Hollies is by means of seed. 



Some few sorts may be increased by 



division or root cuttings, but they take 



such a long time to recover strength, that 



a vigorous batch may be raised from seed 



in about the same time. Sow the seed in 



pans as soon as gathered, and place in a 



cold frame. The seeds will germinate in the 



spring, and if properly managed will be 



j ready to plant out the following year. 



These plants often "sow themselves," 



I and seedlings come up in all sorts of 



j places. 



The under-mentioned are a few of the 

 best kinds : 



E. alpinum (Alpine Sea Holly}. This 

 is found in the alpine pastures of Switzer- 

 land, and, when well grown, is certainly 

 not surpassed in beauty by any plant in 

 the genus. It does well in shady borders, 

 developing a tint almost equal to that 

 when the plant is fully exposed to sun- 

 shine. The involucres, as well as the 

 stems, are of a beautiful blue, and its 

 flower-stems averaging about 2 ft. high, 

 appear during July and August. There 

 is said to be a white variety. 



E. amethystinum (Amethyst Sea 

 Holly]. This has been confounded with 

 the much more robust E. Oliverianum, 

 although they have little in common. E. 

 amethystinum rarely exceeds I ft. to i| 

 ft. in height, is of a somewhat straggling 

 habit, and has flower heads and stems 

 of the finest amethyst-blue. Apart from 

 the great beauty of its flower-heads and 

 stems, this plant is chiefly welcome on 

 account of its pretty dwarf habit. It 

 answers well for a first or second row in 

 the border, and makes on the rock-garden 



