120 GABDEN FLOWERS. 



America, and abound, either on the western 

 side of the Cordilleras, or the southern parts of 

 the continent, or in the contiguous islands. 

 Some grow at such a height on the Andes, that 

 their yellow flowers vary the somewhat mono- 

 tonous tint of grey lichens and green mosses 

 which are found in these elevated regions ; 

 while some smile among the flowers of the low- 

 liest valleys. In Chili, and on the mountains 

 of Peru, they grow in thick i^rofusion, so that 

 they are said to give a pecuhar character to the 

 vegetation. In 1820, six species only were 

 known out of the number now to be found in 

 Britain. The species most common in gardens, 

 and the most hardy, is the little shrubby rugose 

 slipperwort, (^Calceolaria rugosa.) 



Several pretty kinds of veronica, with blue 

 or white flowers, all in some degree resembling 

 the wild speedwells of our meadows, are blowing 

 in the gardens in the month of June, while the 

 eye is almost unable to gaze on the bright scar- 

 let patches of the vervain, which now cluster 

 in glowing colour. These flowers are better 

 known by their name of verbena, and though 

 the botanist may perceive that they bear much 

 resemblance to our wild vervain, yet the 

 unpractised eye might not discern the resem- 

 blance. The scarlet species, ( Verbena atrosan- 

 gidnea,) is the most intense in colour, and 

 absolutely pains the eye by its brightness ; but 

 the most common species, the scarlet verbena, 

 is, in some of its varieties, little less brilliant 

 than this. Several of the species have purple 



