NEMOPHILA 185 



NEMO'PHILA Calif ornian Blue-bell or Grove-love (from 

 Gr. nemos, a grove, and philos, loving). Nat. Ord. 

 Hydrophyllacece. 



There are several forms of Nemophila, all hail- 

 ing from N. America, chiefly California. All of 

 them have a dwarf trailing and spreading habit, 

 with slender hairy foliage and little bell- shaped 

 flowers Being quite hardy, the best and earliest 

 flowers are produced from autumn sowings, and if 

 sown in spring flower all the summer. 



N. atoma'ria has small white flowers speckled 

 with blue. 1836. Syn., N. Menze'sii. The 

 varieties are al'ba ni'gra, white, black centre ; 

 coeles'tis, white with blue margin ; oculafta, 

 pale blue, black centre. 



N. auri'ta is a rare Nemophila, having purple 

 flowers. 1831. 



N. discoida'lis, dark purple, edged with white. 

 1843. The varieties of this are : e'legans, 

 maroon edged with white; mtta'ta, black 

 edged with white. This is said to be herbace- 

 ous in its native country. 



N. insig'nis. This is by far the best of the family. 

 The flowers are larger than the other forms 

 and of the most exquisite sky-blue with small 

 white centre. 1833. There is a fine garden 

 selected strain known as grandiflo'ra with 

 larger blooms. Also a white form called al'ba 

 and a claret-coloured one, purpur'ea-ru'bra. 



