172 MECONOPSIS 



MECONOP'SIS continued. 



This includes some beautiful and extremely 

 interesting species, among them two newly intro- 

 duced plants from Central Asia, which have created 

 quite a stir in the horticultural world, viz., M. 

 integrifolia and M. punicea. They are all of 

 biennial growth and die after flowering, though 

 sometimes it is two or three years before some of 

 them arrive at the flowering stage. A well-drained, 

 sunny, sheltered border or rockery is recommended 

 for them, but they are all quite hardy. 



M. aculea'ta is a charming plant about 18 ins. high, 

 having hairy foliage and large satiny blue 

 flowers with bright yellow centres, several 

 growing on a stalk. N.-W. India, 1864. 



M. integrifo'lia. This was brought before the 

 public notice in 1904. The plants were 

 grown from seed brought from the mountains 

 of N.-E. Thibet at an altitude of 11,000 to 

 15,000 ft., where millions were seen growing. 

 The flowers are 6 to 7 ins. in diameter, borne 

 well above the foliage, on stout, hairy stems, 

 2 ft. high, of a bright lemon-yellow colour, 

 shaped something like a Tulip, 4 to 6 

 being the usual number on a plant, though 

 twice that number was sometimes seen in its 

 native mountains. It is recommended to treat 

 it as a hardy, moisture-loving plant, in peaty 

 or leafy soil and sand, and any coddling in the 

 way of protection is fatal. 



