ALSTK^MERIA ALYSSUM. 



49 



and autumn ; orange, two upper petals 

 lanceolate, streaked with red, ar- 

 ranged in a 5 to 6 -stalked umbel, 

 bearing 10 to 15 blooms. Leaves, 

 numerous, linear-elliptical, glaucous, 

 twisted and turned back at the base, 

 about 44 in. long. Native of Chili and 



the Island of Chiloe. Capital plant 



to naturalize wherever a vegetable 

 soil occurs. I have seen it running 

 through shrubberies and thriving 

 there as luxuriantly as the Willow- 

 herb. Division. 



Alstrsemeria chilensis (Chili A.) 

 A. hcemantha. A handsome and much 

 varied kind, 2 to 3 ft. high. Flowers, 

 in summer and autumn ; large, blood- 

 red, the 2 upper interior petals longer 

 and narrower, variegated with yellow 

 lines, in pairs on a 5- to 6- stalked 

 umbel. Leaves, scattered, obovate, 

 spathulate ; upper ones lanceolate, 

 twisted at the base, minutely fringed 

 on the edges, glaucescent. jRootevery 

 long, thread-like, with oblong, soft, 

 white tubercles. There are many 

 varieties, varying in colour from a rosy 



white to a deep orange. Warm 



banks and borders in sheltered posi- 

 tions, in deep, light, sandy loam or 

 peaty soil thoroughly drained. The 

 roots should be planted at least a foot 

 deep, which will render them less 

 likely to suffer from frost, and if in 

 congenial soil and situation they need 

 not be disturbed oftener than every 

 fourth year. Careful division in early 

 spring, or by seeds sown in spring or 

 early summer. 



Alstraemeria versicolor (Variously- 

 coloured A.) A valuable species, and 

 among the hardiest ; 6 in. high. 

 Flowers, late in summer ; yellow with 

 purple marks, lowest petal the broad- 

 est; in an umbel of 2 to 3 blooma. 

 Leaves, linear - lanceolate, stalkless, 

 scattered. Root with oblong, greenish- 

 white, very soft tubercles. On dry, lofty 

 hills in Chili. Similar positions 



and treatment to those recommended 

 for A. chilensis. 



Althaea ficifolia (Fig-leaved A.) A 

 stout and vigorous herb, 6 to 10ft. 

 high, with hand-shaped leaves. Flowers, 

 in summer ; red or orange-coloured, 

 large, in terminal spikes. Leaves, 

 deeply cut into 6 or 7 lobes or 

 parts ; lobes oblong, obtuse, irregu- 

 larly toothed. Double varieties are 



sometimes met with. Siberia. In 



shrubberies, or naturalization in 

 woods or copses, in ordinary soil. 

 Division or seed. 



Althaea narbonnensis (Narlonne A.) 

 A vigorous herb, 4 to 6 ft. high, 

 with leaves somewhat downy on both 

 sides. Flowers, late in summer ; 

 pale red ; peduncles axillary, many 

 flowered, loose, longer than the leaves. 

 Leaves, alternate, stalked, serrate ; 

 lower ones bluntish, 5- or 7-parted ; 

 upper ones acute, 3 -parted, with the 

 lobes lance-shaped. France and Spain. 



Naturalization in woods, or copses, 



in ordinary soil. Division or seed. 



Althaea rosea (Common Hollyhock.) 

 A well-known plant, 6 to 12 ft. or 

 more high, the parent of the culti- 

 vated Hollyhocks. Flowers,lsAe in sum- 

 mer; various colours, axillary, some- 

 what spiked at the top. Leaves, rough, 

 heart-shaped, cut at the extremity 

 into 5 or 7 angles. There are, as 

 everybody knows, numerous varieties. 



Borders or shrubberies, in rich 



cool soil. Cuttings or seed. 



Alyssum alpestre (Alpine A.) A 

 neat, greyish, evergreen plant, 3 to 

 5 in. high. Flowers, in early sum- 

 mer; yellow, in corymbose racemes 

 at the ends of the branches. Leaves 

 roundish, attenuated at the base 

 silvery white beneath ; stems woodj 

 at the base. High Alps of Europe. 

 . Exposed sunny spots on rock- 

 work, or on the margins of borders, 

 in rather dry, sandy loam. This would 



