324 GAEDEN PLANTS. PART II. 



fully exposed to the sunshine. It requires a very rich soil and 

 abundance of water, in the administering of which caution must 

 be taken that too much moisture do not lie round the collar of 

 the stem, or the plants are very apt to rot off just when about 

 coming into bloom. Sow the seed in October, and put out the 

 plants in the border when two inches high. 



Loasa. 



Creepers ; having leaves which when touched sting like nettles; 

 the flowers they bear are rather curious than very beautiful. 



1. L. aurantiaca. Bears orange-coloured flowers. 



2. L. nitida. Bears yellow and red flowers. 



APIACE^E. 

 Didiscus. 



D. cseruleus. Singular as being the only annual of the vast 

 number of plants this order contains that is of an ornamental 

 character ; bears umbels of beautiful azure flowers, flat at first, 

 and becoming semi-spherical afterwards. Sow the seed in 

 October, and put out the plants when two inches high in a good 

 soil in the border. If grown in pots it is benefited by frequent 

 shiftings ; blossoms in April. 



