386 THE ALPINE FLORA 



and often spread by self-sown seedlings to broad carpets. 

 The A. carnea is a chalk fearing plant. 



A. obtusi folia. Very common in alpine meadows ; 

 forms small tufts of blunted, lanceolate leaves of greyish 

 green, briefly ciliate ; flowers white or rose with yellow 

 eye, generally small, in compact umbel on stem of 2-4 in. 

 June-August. A ruby red variety reported near Leuk. 

 It is larger and perhaps easier than its kindred chalk- 

 loving Chamaejasme, to which it is preferred by some 

 experts. Deep, well drained peaty loam, well covered 

 with broken stone. 



A. villosa (PI. LXXV). Small, downy, running plant; 

 leaves silky, whitish, in small, glandular, close rosettes; 

 flowers white (bright pink in bud). Southern Jura. 

 May-July. Perhaps the kindliest and most beautiful of 

 the kindlier Androsace, with flowers so big and cheerful. 

 It will even grow in sandy borders, but deserves better 

 treatment. That recommended for carnea will serve, 

 though this variety is more thirsty. It is, however, a 

 chalk-loving kind. 



A. Chamaejasme differs in that the leaves are without 

 silky down and hairy only beneath, with ciliate margins, 

 in open, flat rosettes ; flowers white, with a yellow eye 

 passing to bright rose after fecundation. July-August. 

 Grassy and rocky slopes of calcareous Alps; 1 5oo- 

 25oo m. Like obtusifolia and villosa it asks for well 

 drained, light loam, plenty of sun and water, and broken 

 stone round the collar. 



A. helvetica (Aretia helvetica). Forms a pretty, 

 compact cushion of small, greyish leaves, very close-set, 

 which are united round the crowded branches in the 

 form of little cylinders, the old ones persisting in the 

 centre of the tuft and keeping it compact. Sometimes 

 the general appearance looks like a mass of tiny hem- 



