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THE ALPINE FLORA 



sloping stones or packed between upright slabs, should 

 be regularly top-dressed, to prevent a leggy habit, with 

 grit, sand and leaf-mould, and in winter protected round 

 the collar by abundant chips of the stone congenial to 

 them. Few will venture to attempt the removal of full 

 grown plants from the Alps, after once wrestling with 

 the deep tap-roots so characteristic of the genus. Fortu- 

 nately all seed is easy to raise and quick to germinate, 

 so that it wise to keep a regular supply of seedlings, 

 especially as some, e. g. superbus, are perhaps really 

 biennials. 



The characteristics of the genus are as follows : calyx 

 five-toothed, with a calycule or scale-like organs at the 

 base; five petals with long claws; ten stamens; two fili- 

 form styles. The chief species and their habitats are: 



D. Carthusianorum (PI. XIX). Carthusian Pink; OBillet 

 des Chartreux; Karthxuser Nelke. Stems erect, simple; 

 leaves narrow, acuminate, opposite, sometimes a bluish- 

 green; flowers more or less vivid carmine red, small, 

 united in a terminal cluster of 2-3o scentless flowers, on a 

 very short and almost non-existent peduncle. June-Sep- 

 tember. Meadows and dry slopes of all our mountain 

 districts. 



D. atrorubens is distinguished by its tall, slender stem, 

 smaller and narrower petals, and more elongated flowers. 

 Native of sunny places in Valais and Ticino. 



Culture: both do well in gardens and rockeries exposed 

 to the sun; in such positions they flower profusely and 

 for a long time. 



D. sylvestris. Stems simple or slightly branched; leaves 

 long and narrow, like pine-needles, dense, numerous, 

 forming a close tuft; flowers solitary, of a beautiful clear 

 rose colour, the petals notched and not bearded. June- 

 October. Hills and rocks of the Alps and southern Jura. 



