174 



MAZUS MELISSA. 



soil. Same positions and treatment 



as for M . Alcea. 



Mazus Pumilio (Divarf M.) A very- 

 dwarf herb, creeping underground, 

 quickly forming dense tufts that 

 rarely reach more than an inch in 

 height, flowers, in summer ; pale 

 violet, with white centres, 1 to 6 on 

 slender stems, scarcely rising above 

 the leaves ; corolla about ^ in. across ; 

 lower lip, 3-cleft ; upper one 2- cleft ; 

 calyx bell-shaped, 5-parted. Leaves, 

 bundled, spreading, I or 2 in. long, 

 stalked, narrow-spoon-shaped, obtuse, 

 entire or lobulate, smooth or slightly 

 hairy. Australia and New Zealand. 



The rock-garden, and borders, in 



ordinary soil. Division. 



Meconopsis aculeata (Prickly Poppy). 

 A beautiful species, with an erect, 

 furrowed, prickly stem, from 14 to 

 2 ft. high. Flowers, in summer ; fine 

 purple, like shot-silk, solitary or ter- 

 minal in panicles. Leaves, on long 

 stalks, oblong, decurrent, somewhat 

 pinnate, with obtuse divisions. Seed- 

 vessels oblong, sharp on both sides, 

 densely covered with prickles. Hima- 

 layas. The lower and sunny flanks 



of the rock-garden, in well-drained 

 sandy soil. Seed. 



Meconopsis cambrica( Welsh Pappy}. 

 A handsome Poppy-like herb, form- 

 ing, when established, large pale 

 green tufts of rather hairy, divided 

 leaves; 1 ft. high. Flowers, in early 

 summer ; sulphur - yellow, largish, 

 erect, drooping in bud, on long 

 smoothish stalks. Leaves, pinnate, 

 glaucous beneath; leaflets ovate or 

 lance-shaped, toothed, lower ones on 

 long stalks, upper ones smaller and on 

 shorter stalks. Europe and some of 

 the Western counties of England, 



Wales, and Ireland. On rocky 



places or banks in peaty soil this plant 

 usually grows and looks best, taking 

 care of itself in a semi-wild state. 

 Seed or division. 



Medicago falcata (Sickle Medick). 

 A vigorous British herb, with trifo- 

 liate leaves and prostrate stems, 2 to 

 4 ft. long. Flowers, in summer ; yel- 

 low, in short, close, axillary racemes, 

 on stalks longer than the leaves. 

 Leaves, pinnate, on short stalks ; leaf- 

 lets oblong or linear, smooth, toothed 

 at top, entire at base; stipules awl- 

 shaped, entire. Europe, Asia, and 

 the Southern and Eastern counties of 



England. Banks or slopes, on 



which its wide-spreading masses may 

 be seen to advantage, borders, or very 

 rough rock or rootwork, so planted 

 that its long shoots may fall over the 

 brows of rocks. It thrives in any 

 soil. Division or seed. 



Melianthus major (Large Honey - 

 flower). A half -shrubby plant, with 

 very handsome and distinct grey, 

 pinnate leaves ; 4 to 6 ft. high. Flowers, 

 in summer ; chocolate - brown, in 

 longish spikes springing from the 

 axils of the upper leaves. Leaves, 

 clasping the stem, having broadish 

 stipules sheathing the petiole, smooth 

 on both sides ; leaflets, 4 or 5, large, 

 deeply cut into acute divisions ; stems 

 hollow, woody at base. Cape of Good 



Hope. Hardy in sunny nooks on 



sheltered banks, in well-drained soil. 

 The stems are usually cut down by 

 frost, but the plants look all the 

 better for this when they come up the 

 following summer. Seed and division. 



Melissa omcinalis (Common Balm}. 

 A well-known old garden plant, 

 with a very grateful odour when 

 bruised ; 2 to 3 ft. high. Flowers, in 

 summer ; white or pale yellow, in 3- 

 to 6 - flowered whorls ; corolla twice 

 the length of calyx. Leaves, broadly- 

 ovate, blunt or heart-shaped at the 

 base, hairy above and smooth beneath ; 

 lower ones on longish stalks. There 

 is a variegated variety. Southern 

 Europe and Caucasus. The varie- 

 gated form is sometimes used as an 



