54 



ANDROSACE. 



of moist and deep sandy loam on the 

 sunny side of one of the hothouses in 

 the College Gardens of Dublin. Cut- 

 tings and seed. Where it perishes in 

 winter it is worthy of being annually 

 propagated. 



Androsace obtusifolia (Blunt-leaved 

 A.} Allied to A . Chamcejasme ; 2 to 

 6 in. high. Flowers, in spring ; white 

 or rose, with yellow eye, in umbels ; 

 stems numerous, covered with short 

 down ; divisions of calyx oval, lanceo- 

 late and pointed. Leaves, in rosettes, 

 larger and firmer than those of 

 A. Chamcejasme, lance-shaped, or some- 

 what spoon-shaped, blunt, stalkless, 

 smooth. Widely distributed over the 



European Alps. Similar treatment 



to that for A . Chamcejasme. 



Androsace pubescens (Downy A.) 

 Distinguished from its fellows by 

 a small swelling on the stem close 

 to the flower. Flowers, in spring or 

 early summer; white with yellow 

 centre, on stalks shorter than the 

 leaves, the unopened buds looking 

 like pearls set in tiny five-cleft cups, 

 and scarcely rising above the dense 

 cushion of foliage. Leaves, spoon- 

 shaped, ciliated, the surfaces clothed 

 with simple or (rarely) forked hairs, 

 and forming densely packed hoary 



rosettes. Pyrenees and Alps. Not 



difficult to cultivate in sunny fissures 

 planted in sandy or gritty peat mixed 

 with fibry loam. 



Androsace pyrenaica (Pyreneean A.) 

 Resembling A. helvetica, often less 

 than an inch high. Flowers, in sum- 

 mer ; white with yellow eyes, on 

 smooth incurved stems, longer than 

 the leaves ; segments of calyx blunt. 

 Leaves, downy, having a keel at the 

 back, recurved, narrow-oblong, cili- 

 ated, forming diminutive pincushion- 

 like tufts. Very high mossy rocks on 

 the Pyrenees. Rockwork, in fis- 

 sures between large stones, with 



plenty of sandy loam and peat be- 

 tween them, or on level exposed parts 

 with small stones on the surface. 

 Division or seed. 



Androsace villosa (Shaggy A.) 

 A very pretty kind, with the flowers 

 in umbels and the little stems in- 

 clined to creep a good deal, 2 to 4 

 in. high. Flowers, in early summer ; 

 white or pale rose, with purplish ot 

 yellowish eyes, in umbels. Leaves, 

 narrow, oblong, covered with soft 

 white hair or down, mostly on the 

 under side. Alps, Pyrenees, and moun- 

 tains of Dauphiny. Ledges in the 



rock-garden, or on level spots, planted 

 between pieces of limestone. Care- 

 ful division and seed. 



Androsace Vitaliana (Yellow A.) 

 Aretia Vitaliana. Distinguished at 

 once by its clear yellow flowers, and 

 rarely growing more than an inch high, 

 except in rich moist soil, where it some- 

 times reaches two inches or a little 

 more. Flowers, in summer ; rich yellow, 

 large for so small a plant, scarcely 

 rising above the leaves, the throat 

 much more dilated than in the other 

 kinds, and the tube elongated. Leaves, 

 very narrow, sharp pointed, greyish ; 



stems numerous. Alps of Europe. 



Hockwork, where it should be abun- 

 dantly supplied with water during 

 the dry months, or on the level 

 border in suitable districts, surrounded 

 by stones half plunged in the ground, 

 to prevent evaporation, in free, sandy, 

 and moist soil. Careful division or 



Androsace Wulfeniana (Wulfen's A.) 

 A very rare dwarf free-growing 

 species, forming dense rigid tufts of 

 deep green leaves 2 in. high. Flowers, 

 in summer ; vivid rosy or purplish 

 crimson, larger than those of any other 

 species. Leaves, oval, pointed, in close 



rosettes. Styria. Eockwork in 



peaty loam and grit. Seed or division. 



