3l8 THE ALPINE FLORA 



and in Switzerland as the flowering Willow or Osier 

 (Rose-bay Willow), which produces the glorious vivid 

 carmine spikes which are one of the finest ornaments of 

 our mountain landscapes. It springs up in the cool, rocky 

 glades of all our hills, flowering from July to September 

 with an effect that is at times startling. The large rosy 

 clumps for the plant always grows in masses, masses 

 which sometimes end in whole hill-sides covered with 

 brilliant carmine flowers are one of Nature's glories, 

 and the note they strike in the full, grand harmony of 

 colours, is a note of gaiety, of triumph, of confidence 

 and happiness. There is a "joie de vivre" about these 

 lordly Willow-Herbs of the alpine glades, rejoicing with 

 an arrogant joy in the fair portion of their lot - - a little 

 exclusive, we admit, for they know no pity for the weak, 

 and will not, in their glorious beauty, that they should 

 suffer restraint or any abatement, but that every rival be 

 banished and trodden down. Near Fribourg the plant is 

 known as Salade de Jievres ; people there are said to be 

 very partial to the leaves, which would appear to have 

 balsamic and detergent properties. 



It is an encroacher and must be given partial shade in 

 a cool rockery. Nice clumps are to be seen at St-James 

 Park in the heart of London; their effect is superb from 

 May to July. At Floraire a glorious variety with pure 

 white flowers is cultivated and much admired by visitors. 



E. Dodonaei (E. Fleicheri) (PJ. XXXVI II) is the plant 

 with fine spikes of large flowers, the corolla clear rose, 

 the calyx vivid carmine, which enlivens alpine gravels, 

 dry torrent beds, cracks in glacier moraines. True to 

 the principles of its race, it shows the invasiveness of the 

 born colonist. 



E. rosmarinifolium differs in its taller growth, more 

 ramified habit, long flower-spikes of less vivid rose. Grows 



