364 THE ALPINE FLORA 



for the tap-roots must be given and the neighbouring 

 stones arranged to guard against winter damp. Frequent 

 top-dressings are of advantage. The P. orbicular e from 

 the downs of Hampshire and the Dalmatian comosum are 

 also excellent kinds. P. hemisphxricum is more difficult 

 and seldom successful, but hardly necessary where the 

 better varieties are grown. Slugs are very partial to 

 plants of the genus, eating out the crowns and so 

 destroying all chance of bloom. Propagation by seed. 



For the benefit of collectors the botanical description 

 of the genus and the species found in the Alps is given : 



Corolla tubular before expansion, then opening from 

 top to base in 5 linear segments; stigmas 2-3, filiform; 

 capsule ovoid, opening by 2-3 longitudinal valves; stem 

 simple; flowers small, in one solitary capitule or in a 

 compact spike. 



P . betonicx folium (PI. LXII1). Lower leaves lanceolate 

 or cordate-lanceolate, on long petioles ; scape erect, stiff, 

 bearing one short spike, passing into an oval and then 

 elongated; flowers blue, often with 1-2 bracts at the base. 

 July-August. Dry, rocky alpine slopes. 



P. scorzonerxfolium differs from it in glabrous or only 

 ciliate leaves, the lower elongate, linear, imperceptibly 

 narrowing towards the stem. 



P. spicatum *. A widely spread plant, found in all 

 wooded and mountainous parts of Switzerland; radical 

 leaves cordate-ovate, crenate, toothed, often marked 

 with a brown spot in the centre, upper leaves narrower; 

 flowers close-set on a pyramidal or cylindrical spike, 

 yellowish-white, rarely blue. 



In P. Halleri, an alpine or subalpine species, the lower 

 leaves are rounded, on long, slender petioles, the margins 

 twice toothed; flowers very deep blue, in long, close 

 spike, with two bracts at the base. 



