94 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



This evergreen creeping shrub likes a shady place in sandy peat 

 and loam, or in good leaf mould, and can be increased when well 

 established by careful division. 



Poly gala alpinum Steudel. 



A small species, 2-4 inches high, with branched, recumbent stems. 

 Leaves oboval or oblong, forming a rosette ; stem-leaves narrower 

 and much smaller. Flowers pale blue, very small, in small, dense, 

 terminal heads. Capsule small, rather shorter, but broader than the 

 wings. 



Mountain pastures ; local. June, July. 



Distribution. Western Alps, including Southern Switzerland, 

 Pyrenees. 



Poly gala alpestris Reichb. 



Stems numerous, woody, filiform, spreading, ascending. Lower 

 leaves short, broadly ovate, often forming a rosette ; upper leaves 

 longer, clothing the lower part of the panicle. Flowers small, pale 

 blue. Wings of calyx ovate, as broad as, and longer than the 

 capsule. 



Alpine and sub-alpine pastures, especially on limestone. June, 



July. 



Distribution. Juras, Central and Western Alps, including 

 Piedmont. 



This species is not much understood, and is often confused with 

 P. alpina Perr. et Long. P. alpestris may perhaps be a form of 

 P. amara L., and it is synonymous with P. amarella Crantz var. 

 alpestris Borbas. 



For the rock-garden there are other more beautiful species than 

 the above which, though not Alpine, are more worthy of a place on 

 rockeries. P. nicaensis Risso, a Mediterranean plant extending 

 into the Maritime Alps up to 2000 feet, has handsome purple flowers. 

 The Common Milkwort P. vulgaris L., with flowers of blue, rose, pur- 

 ple, or white, attains a remarkable size in the mountains, and is 

 well worth more attention in our gardens, for it will grow anywhere 

 and is very pretty. 



CARYOPHYLLACE^: 



Annual or perennial herbs, with opposite, entire leaves, and no 

 stipules, except in a few genera which have small, scarious stipules ; 

 the branches usually knotted at each pair of leaves. Flowers 

 frequently in dichotomous cymes or panicles. Sepals 4 or 5, free 

 or united into a tubular calyx. Petals 4 or 5, twisted in the bud, 

 sometimes minute. Stamens free, inserted under the ovary. 

 Styles 2 to 5, linear, stigmatic along their whole length. Capsule 

 i-celled, or divided into cells at the base only, opening at the top 

 into twice as many teeth as there are styles. Ovules numerous. 



