GENTIANA GERANIUM. 



133 



dotted belts without ; the lobes of the 

 mouth short and spreading ; blossoms 

 in opposite pairs in the axils of the 

 upper leaves. Leaves, smooth, H in. 

 long, and \ in. broad ; linear or spoon- 

 shaped, obtuse, sessile ; all rather 

 thick; the lower ones shorter and 

 broader. There is a variety with 

 white flowers. Siberia, Europe, and 



Britain. The artificial bog, rock- 



garden, or the choice border, in deep 

 soil, and in very moist spots. Careful 

 division. 



Gentiana pyrenaica (Pyrenean 0.) 

 Allied to the Vernal Gentian, but dif- 

 fering by the corolla being nearly 

 regularly 10-cleft, and by its narrow, 

 sharp-pointed, imbricated leaves ; 1 to 

 3 in. high. Floivers, in early summer; 

 terminating the branches, solitary ; 

 corolla funnel-shaped, pale-green out- 

 side, deep-blue within ; calyx half as 

 long as the corolla, 5-cleft ; segments 

 lance-shaped, acute, edges pale. Leaves, 

 lanceolate-linear ; stein procumbent, 

 branching at bottom; sterile branches 



densely leafy. Pyrenees. Suited 



for the same positions, and requiring 

 the same treatment as Gentiana verna. 



Gentiana septemfida (Crested G.) 

 A curious species, with erect, simple 

 stems ; 6 to 12 in. high. Flowers, in 

 early summer ; in clusters, cylindrical, 

 blue and white inside, greenish brown 

 outside, and having, between each 

 of the larger roundish segments, a 

 smaller one finely cut. Leares, ovate- 

 lanceolate, 3- nerved, decussate, crowd- 

 ed. Caucasus, The rock-garden 



and choice borders, in fine sandy loam. 

 Division. 



Gentiana verna (Vernal G.) One of 

 the most brilliant, and perhaps the 

 most admired by travellers of all 

 alpine flowers ; 1 to 3 in. high. 

 Flowers, in spring ; beautiful blue, 

 solitary, on simple terminal stems ; 

 corolla salver-shaped, 5-cleft, with 

 live small, bifid, accessory segments. 



Leaves, ovate, somewhat acute ; those 

 of the root crowded ; stem-leaves in 

 about 3 pairs. Mountain pastures on 

 the Alps of Southern and Central Eu- 

 rope, and in one or two places in the 



British Isles. The rock-garden, 



choice borders, and in pots, or deep 

 pans, plunged in SP-<! in the open air. 

 Sandy or gritty loam, with abundance 

 of water in summer, and full exposure, 

 are the essential conditions of success. 

 In borders, the plant should be sur- 

 rounded by half-buried stones. It 

 might be easily naturalized in moist, 

 iipland pastures. Careful division. 



Geranium argenteum (Silvery Crane' 's- 

 bill). A beautiful, dwarf, alpine pe- 

 rennial, with silvery- white leaves, and 

 large handsome flowers on stalks, 

 rarely more than 2 in. high, usually 

 nearly prostrate. Flowers, in early 

 summer ; pale rose, with darker veins, 

 1 to 2 in. across; petals notched; 

 stalks 2 -flowered, almost springing 

 from the roots. Leaves, on long stalks, 

 hoary, or silky on both surfaces, 5 to 

 7-parted; segments linear. Alps of 



Dauphiny and the Pyrenees. The 



rock-garden, and margins of borders, 

 in light friable loam. This might, 

 with advantage, be grown in pots, 

 wherever it is an object to show 

 alpine or herbaceous plants in pots. 

 Propagated by division or seed, which 

 is sparingly produced. 



Geranium cinereum (Grey Crane's- 

 bill}, A. very beautiful plant, allied 

 to the silvery Crane's-bill, but with 

 leaves less Silvery and not so deeply 

 divided, and attaining a height of 5 or 

 6 in. Flowers, in summer ; pale red, 

 with darker stripes ; petals notched ; 

 stalks 2-flowered, almost springing from 

 the root. Leaves, stalked, almost all 

 radical, clothed with a slightly glau- 

 cous pubescence, 5 to 7-parted ; lobes 

 trifid, wedge-shaped. Pyrenees. 

 Treatment and positions the same aa 

 for G. argenteum. Seed or division. 



