74 



ASTRAGALUS ATHAMANTA. 



kind, from its very silvery and woolly 

 pinnate leaves, growing in compact 

 tufts about a span high. Attracted 

 by its appearance, when I saw the 

 plant in cultivation in Switzerland, I 

 brought home some seeds, from which 

 plants have been raised by Mr. W. 

 Bull and Mr. Jas. Backhouse. I have 

 not yet seen it in flower, but from the 

 beauty of its leaves alone it is likely 

 to prove an excellent rock-garden 

 plant, and probably a valuable bedding 

 and edging one. ft is easily increased 

 from seed. 



Astragalus ponticus (Pontic A.) A 

 very stout perennial, 2 to 3 ft. or more 

 high, with erect hairy stem and large 

 handsome leaves. Flowers, in sum- 

 mer ; yellow, sessile, in roundish 

 heads ; segments of the calyx linear, 

 much shorter than the tube of the co- 

 rolla. Leaves, smoothish ; leaflets ob- 

 long; stipules lance-shaped. Tauriaand 

 Bessarabia Among vigorous peren- 

 nials on margins of shrubberies and in 

 wild places, in any soil. Division or 

 seed. 



Astragalus Tragacantha (Goat's 

 Thorn A.) A. dwarf spiny shrub, 1 to 

 3 ft. high. Flowers, in summer ; pale 

 violet, sessile, 2 to 5 together in the 

 axils of the leaves; calyx downy, 

 cylindrical. Leaves, hoary, having 7 

 to 1 1 pairs of leaflets ; stalks becoming 

 spiny when old. Native of the Levant. 



Rockwork, among dwarf shrubs or 



on banks. It grows in any soil, but does 

 not flower so freely in stiff soils as in 

 fine sandy ones, and is more fitted for 

 the botanic garden than the select 

 collection. Seed or cuttings. 



Astragalus vaginatus (Sheathed A.) 

 A handsome species with erect, 

 pubescent stem, about 1 ft. high. 

 Flowers, in summer ; rosy-purple, with 

 white- tipped wings; calyx somewhat 

 inflated, tinged with rose-colour, and 

 thickly covered with soft white and 

 black hairs; flowers each about an inch 



long, arranged in dense spikes on 

 stalks longer than the leaves. Leaves, 

 of 7 or 8 pairs of leaflets and an odd 

 one; leaflets elongated- oblong, with a 

 very short point at the apex, and 

 covered on both sides with short, 

 silvery, adpressed hairs, distinctly ar- 

 ranged in the direction of the length 

 of the leaflet ; young stipules joined 

 together and opposite the leaves. 



Siberia and N. America. Borders 



or rockwork, in sandy loam. Seed or 

 division. 



Astragalus vimineus (Silvery A.) 

 A very handsome plant, 6 to 8 in. 

 high. Flowers, in May ; standard 

 purplish rose, 1| times longer than the 

 wings, which are of a pure white, as 

 is also the keel, arranged in short 

 spikes, which are nearly capitular in 

 form, on stalks longer than the leaves. 

 Leaflets, linear - lance - shaped, acute, 

 marked with 5 or 6 ridges. Native of 

 Iberia, the Caucasus, and the neigh- 

 bourhood of Odessa. Rockwork 



and select borders, in very sandy loam, 

 thoroughly drained, and in a sunny 

 position. Seed and division. 



Astrantia major (Greater A.) One of 

 the most distinct and ornamental of 

 hardy umbelliferous plants, 1 to 2 ft. 

 high. Flowers, in summer; pinkish, 

 striped, in umbels. Leaves of root, 

 5 -partite, segments ovate-lance-shaped, 

 toothed ; those of involucre linear- 

 lance-shaped, entire, 15 to 20 in num- 

 ber, about the same length as the 



umbel. Europe and Caucasus. 



Borders, rough rockwork or banks, 

 shrubberies and naturalization in 

 copses in any soil. Division. 



Athamanta Matthioli (MatthiolVsA.) 

 A dwarf graceful perennial, 1 tc 

 2 ft. high, with finely-cut fennel-like 

 leaves. Flowers, in summer; white, 

 12 to 25 in an umbel. Leaves, 3- to 4- 

 ternate ; leaflets narrow, thread-like ; 

 both stem and leaves smooth. Alps 



