346 THE ALPINE FLORA 



of white flowers in numerous, close-set capitules. It is 

 the first flower to appear in moist places and beside 

 streams after the snow melts, keeping company with the 

 small Crocus and Soldanella. 



P. albus differs from the above in the roundish heart- 

 like outline of the leaves which are a little angular and 

 white to greyish below, while the flowers are yellowish- 

 white. April-May. Moist copses on all Swiss moun- 

 tains. 



Aster 



"E,ng. : Aster ; TV. : Marguerite de montagne or Chamois bleu ; 

 Ger. : Sternblume. 



The magnificent mountain Daisies are of the easiest 

 cultivation in any warm, sandy soil. But their superb 

 magnificence deserves better than the careless neglect 

 which their obliging disposition too often invites. They 

 are apt to grow out of the ground leaving the stalk bare 

 and a plaything to the wind ; this must be met by due 

 precautions, of which a spring top-dressing is the best. 

 Jllpinus in cultivation may grow coarse and throw flowers 

 of unnatural size ; it is all the better for a little starvation. 

 Nor should one be led to plant it in too sunny a place, 

 because it is a child of sun-baked alpine slopes. In our 

 lowlands it welcomes some protection from extreme heat. 

 Other true and indispensable alpines are acris, amellus (of 

 which many fine hybrids have been raised), and the 

 Himalayan diplostephioides. The common garden Michael- 

 mas Daisies are of American origin and need much more 

 liberal treatment. Both groups, however, require fairly 

 frequent division. The characteristics are an involucre, 

 whose imbricated bracts suggest overlapping roof tiles ; 

 disk-flowers with five teeth ; ray flowers strap-like and 

 radiating like those of a Daisy. 



