406 THE ALPINE FLORA 



blue, shortlived, with crimson ring near base of white 

 cup; stamens prominent, yellow. July- August. Rocks 

 of the Alps and Jura; iooo-25oo m. 



V. fruticulosa differs in higher, more erect stems; leaves 

 longer, of brighter green ; flower reddish or whitish, in 

 elongate, glandular - hairy raceme. July- September. 

 Rocky places in the Alps and Jura. 



Both these allied species do excellently in rockeries, 

 alpine gardens, or old walls. Sound but somewhat 

 stony soil ; sun. 



V. spicata*. Brightens grassy, dry banks in autumn 

 with beautiful indigo clumps of pretty blue spikes; 

 leaves oblong, crenate, grey-green, pubescent, the lower 

 opposite, the upper dispersed; flowers small, very 

 numerous, deep blue (seldom white or pink), in erect, 

 crowded, narrow spikes. Easily grown; adapted alike for 

 carpets or edgings. 



V. bellidioides (PI. LXXXV). Small, tufted plant; leaves 

 obtuse, rather large, grey-green, in coarse rosettes ; 

 flowers small, blue, in short, slightly hairy racemes. 



V. alpina*. Small, pubescent plant; leaves many, 

 ovate, entire or crenate; stems ascending; flowers pale 

 blue, in short, pubescent racemes. July-August. High 

 Alps ; iooo-25oo m. 



V. aphylla (PI. LXXXV). Differs from the preceding 

 chiefly in a leafless stem with a short, few-flowered 

 raceme of blue, reticulated flowers. June-August. Stony 

 pastures of the Alps and Jura. 



Digitalis 



Eng. : Foxglove ; "Fr. : Digitale ; Ger. : Fingerhut. 



These stately, erect plants are, as is well known, 

 extremely poisonous owing to the presence of a variable 



