MOLUCCELLA 107 



themums {FicoidecB) are deserving of attention, as they are 

 very bright and beautiful when their flowers open in the 

 sunshine. If sown under glass in gentle heat in March it is 

 an easy matter to obtain good plants ready to put out where 

 they are to flower, at the end of May or early in June, 

 according to the locality. The seeds need be only just 

 covered with fine sandy soil. 



The best of these Half-hardy Annuals are M. crystallinum, 

 commonly known as the Ice Plant, a trailer, with white or 

 pink flowers ; M. pomeridianum, i foot, yellow ; and M. 

 pyropeum (syn. M. tricolor), 6 inches, rose, white, and crimson, 

 or white and purple. The latter is the Fig Mangold, and 

 is an attractive plant, flowering with great freedom in 

 bright weather. Some lime rubble in the soil suits all the 

 Mesembryanthemums. 



MOLUCCELLA 



''Molucca Balm"— '' Shell Flower" 



More curious than beautiful, at least one species of 

 Moluccella, namely, M. Laevis {Labiates), merits culture be- 

 cause of its striking appearance, the growths being furnished 

 for the greater part of their length with whorls of small, 

 whitish, labiate flowers, and each flower has a large mem- 

 branaceous and finely veined calyx, that lasts some time after 

 the flowers have faded. The stems are i| to 2 feet high. This 

 is a Hardy Annual, but is best managed if sown in gentle 

 heat in the early Spring, and planted out in May. A few 

 plants are worth growing for their novel and interesting 

 appearance. 



NOLANA 



''Chilian Bell-Flower" 



A small and neglected family are the Nolanas {Con- 

 volvulacecB). Perhaps they will become more popular in 



