ROSACEyt 



trees. The Rev. H. Friend speaks at length on the Dryads 

 in his charming book on Flower-lore '. 



Geum 



Eng. : Avcns ; "Fr. : Bcnoite; Ger. : Benedictenkraut. 



The two species mentioned are splendid rockery plants 

 and quite easy both to raise from seed and to keep in 

 vigorous health. Indeed G. reptans, perhaps the finer, 

 becomes gross and lazy except in the poorest of soil, and 

 almost refuses to flower except in almost pure sand, or 

 grit, or hungry crevice. The position should be cool, 

 dryish, facing either east or west. JWontanum in easier, 

 doing well in any good soil and partial sun. Their beauty 

 does not cease with the flowers, which are succeeded by 

 graceful, feathery seed-tassels. The roots are faintly 

 scented with clove, and a wine distilled makes an excellent 

 stomachic. A decoction, also, or an infusion in hot baths 

 is used to cure whitlow. The characteristics are a persistent 

 calyx with ten divisions in two ranks, the five exterior 

 smaller and forming a calycule; the petals seldom exceed 

 five but the stamens are numerous. 



G. reptans (PI. XXXIII). A beautiful plant with hard, 

 brownish stem; putting out long stolons like red-brown 

 threads, which in turn put up aerial heads; leaves very 

 deeply cut; immense flowers of beautiful yellow, followed 

 by tufts of twisted, plumose awns. July-August. Stones 

 and rocks of the high alps (1900-2000 m.). 



G. montanum differs from it in that the stem is without 

 runners, and the scapes overtop the leaves, which are 

 divided into very unequal segments, the terminal being 

 very large; flowers smaller and of a darker yellow. All 

 mountain pastures (2000 m.). 



1 Flowers and Flower-lore. Vol. 1., pp. 38 et seq. 



