238 



SILENE SILYBUM. 



Silene Pumilio (Pigmy Catchfy). A 

 densely-tufted species, 2 or 3 in. high, 

 resembling the Cushion Pink. Flowers, 

 in summer; much larger than those 

 of S. acaulis, rose-coloured, 1 on each 

 short stalk ; petals obcordate, crowned ; 

 calyx inflated, hairy, many-nerved. 

 Leaves, linear or spoon-shaped, some- 

 what succulent and obtuse, slightly 



pubescent. Alps of Germany. 



The rock-garden, and the margin of 

 the choice mixed border, in moist 

 sandy loam. Seed and careful divi- 

 sion. 



Silene Schafta (Autumn Catch fly}. 

 A dwarf, neat, and pretty species, 4 to 

 8 in. high. Flowers, late in summer ; 

 large, purplish-rose-colour, erect, in 

 branching elongated cymes; calyx 

 slightly swollen in the upper part. 

 Leaves, opposite, the lower ones ob- 

 long ; the upper ones oval, acute, of a 



light - green colour. Caucasus. 



Borders and the rock-garden ; best in 

 light warm sandy loam. Seed and 

 division* 



Silene virginica (Fire Pink). A 

 clammy and rather tall kind with 

 simple stems, usually of a dark brown 

 hue ; 1 to 2 ft. high. Flowers, 

 early in summer ; crimson, very large ; 

 petals deeply 2-cleft, lobes sometimes 

 toothed ; stamens projecting. Leaves, 

 of the root spoon- shaped, with fringed 

 stalks ; stem-leaves oblong-lance- 

 shaped, upper ones very short, pubes- 

 cent. North America. Rockwork, 



or borders, in sandy loam. Seed and 

 division. 



SilpMumlaciniatum (Compass Plant). 

 A vigorous Composite, rough with 

 white spreading hairs ; 6 to 10 ft. 

 high. Flowers, in summer; yellow, 

 few, in large heads 3 to 5 in. 

 across, forming racemose spikes ; ter- 

 minal heads opening earliest. Leaves, 

 pinnately divided, mostly stalked and 

 clasping at the base ; segments lance- 

 shaped with wavy margin, or pinna- 



tin' d, sometimes entire ; lower leaves 

 1 to 24 ft. long ; veins of the leaves, 

 and the young heads clothed with long 



white hairs. North America. 



Naturalized among tall plants in half - 

 wild spots, in any soil. Division. 



Silphium perfoliatum (Cup Plant). 

 Another very stout perennial, 4 

 to 7 ft. high. Flowers, in summer, 

 yellow, in corymbose heads, the mid- 

 dle one on a long stalk. Leaves, oppo- 

 site, 6 to 12 in. long, 4 to 7 in. broad, 

 oval, or oval-oblong, thin, coarsely 

 toothed, on winged connate stalks ; 

 stem stout, square. North America. 



The same positions etc., as for 



the preceding kind, and occasionally 

 in groups of the larger perennials. Di- 

 vision. 



Silphinm terebinthinacetim (Prairie 

 Dock) . A smooth an d vigorous species , 

 4 to 8 ft high. Flowers, late in sum- 

 mer ; yellow, about 3 in. across, in a 

 loose irregular panicle ; scales of the in- 

 volucre smooth. Leaves, oval or oval- 

 oblong, mostly heart-shaped at the 

 base, sharply toothed, often 2 ft. or 

 more long, on long stalks, and some- 

 what like those of the Burdock but 

 stiffer; stem smooth, roundish, leaf- 

 less except near the base. North 



America. Similar treatment etc., 



to that for the preceding kind. 



Silybum eburneum (Ivory Milk-this- 

 tle). A variety of S. marianum, dis- 

 tinguished from it by the ivory white- 

 ness of its spines. It is also more 

 tender and more liable to perish in 

 winter. It is more decidedly a biennial 

 than S. marianum, and when sown in 

 spring seldom flowers before the fol- 

 lowing year, so that, during the first 

 year, its fine rosettes of leaves continue 

 in good condition for a much longer 

 time. Britain. In groups of fine- 

 leaved hardy plants, or naturalized in 

 light warm soils on rough banks, etc. 

 Seed. 



