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BOUSSINGAULTIA BRODLEA. 



from the mouth of the flower. Leaves, 

 nearly all radical, heart-shaped, set 

 with rigid hairs. This runs very much 

 at the root, which is thick and blackish 

 on the outside. Found about Constan- 

 tinople. Naturalization in lanes, on 



banks, etc., in any soil, but best 

 in sunny spots, as it is an early 

 flowerer. Division. 



Boussingaultia baselloides (Trailing 

 B.) A very luxuriant trailing plant, 

 16 to nearly 20 ft. long, sometimes 

 more. Flowers, late in autumn ; small, 

 white, fragrant, becoming black as 

 they fade, disposed in clusters 2 to 

 4 in. long, which spring from the axils 

 of the leaves at the ends of the 

 branches. Leaves, of a fine green, 

 alternate, cordate, smooth, shining, 

 fleshy, slightly wavy; stems very 

 twining, tinged with red, growing 

 with extraordinary rapidity, and pro- 

 ducing numerous tubercles. Root 

 fibrous and long. Native of Quito. 



Prefers a rich vegetable soil and 



sunny aspect, although it will grow 

 in almost any soil and position. It is 

 only suited for dry banks and chalkpits, 

 associated with climbing and trailing 

 plants. Propagated with the greatest 

 facility by means of the tubercles of 

 the stem ; these are extremely brittle, 

 and break with the least shock, but 

 the smallest fragment will vegetate 

 as well as the entire tubercle. 



Briza media (Common Quaking-grass). 

 An erect-growing ornamental grass, 

 9 to 15 in. high. Flowers, in early 

 summer ; in loose panicles 2 to 4 in. 

 long ; spikelets two on each slender 

 branch, roundish at first, heart-shaped 

 afterwards, smooth, shining, usually 

 variegated with green and purple, but 

 sometimes white. Leaves flat, 2 to 4 in. 

 long, and g in. broad, few, except at the 

 bottom of the stem. Asia, Europe, 

 and Britain. Borders, and natu- 

 ralized on bare banks and slopes. Seed 

 and division. 



Broidsea coccinea (Crimson-flowered 

 B.) A very beautiful bulbous plant 

 of the lily family, with a flower- scape 

 from 2 to 3 ft. in height. Flowers, in 

 summer ; about 14 in. long, tubular- 

 campanulate, with six recurved seg- 

 ments of a pea-green colour, the re- 

 mainder of the flower being of a rich 

 magenta crimson. The three exterior 

 stamens are petal-like and greenish- 

 white. The flowers are nodding, and 

 borne in a terminal umbel of from 5 to 

 12, or even 15 to 20 flowers, when esta- 

 blished and vigorous. Leaves, linear, 

 channelled, lax, nearly as long as the 

 flower-scape. Trinity Mountains, Ca- 

 lifornia. Select warm spots on 



rockwork, and mixed border among 

 select plants, in warm sandy loam. 

 Division and seed. 



Brodiaea congesta (Allium-Wce B.} 

 A rather handsome AUium-like bulb, 

 8 to 20 in. high. Flowers, in summer ; 

 of a fine blue, with the crown paler ; 

 in an umbel of 6 to 8 blooms ; petals 

 cleft at the top. Leaves few, long, 

 slender, and grooved on the inside. 

 Bulb, small, roundish, and much 

 wrinkled. Native of the N.W. coast 

 of N. America. A peculiarity of the 

 flowers of the plants of this species is 

 that some of the stamens are meta- 

 morphosed into fleshy scales, which 

 adhere to the mouth of the corolla, 

 and in this state bear anthers. Bor- 

 ders in light soil. Division. 



Brodisea grandiflora (Large-flowered 

 B.} A handsome bulbous plant, 8 in. 

 to 1 ft. high. Flowers, in summer ; 

 bluish-purple, with entire pointed 

 petals, in an umbel of 2 to 7 flowers. 

 Leaves, 2 or more, linear, pointed, 

 slender, grooved on the inside, fur- 

 nished with a few membranous scales. 

 Bulb, small, roundish, dry and 

 wrinkled. Native of N.W. coast of 

 N. America. Choice borders, rock- 

 work and bulb-garden, in light, sandy, 

 deep and well-drained soil. Division. 



