PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



215 



ance in the matter of colour is en- 

 hanced on a closer inspection by the 

 beauty of form. In another section 

 we find white to be the predominant 

 colour, and though in many cases 

 the flowers are small, still, in the 

 mass, filling up a nook or crevice, 

 and contrasted with the dark-green 

 leaves, they become very effective. 

 They should be placed in the sunniest 

 aspects ; the more effectually the 

 plants are matured by the autumn 

 sun the more freely will they return 

 these favours by an abundant bloom 

 in early spring. The third section, 

 which includes plants of a purple and 

 violet colour, is chiefly, if not altogether, 

 confined to the high mountain lands 

 of South America. Of these we have 

 but one in cultivation, Draba violacea, 

 and of so recent introduction that it 

 may be considered rash to pass any 

 opinion on it beyond the fact that 

 it is a remarkably beautiful plant, of 

 doubtful hardiness. 



Draba aizoides (Seagreen Whitlow- 

 Grass). This may be taken as typical of the 

 Golden Draba ; it is indigenous to Britain, 

 but only found in one locality in South 

 Wales. In growth it does not exceed 3 

 inches in height, and when planted on the 

 slope of a sunny border, in sandy soil, 

 which it loves, it forms a dense yellow 

 carpet in the early part of March. It 

 does not ripen seed freely, but increases 

 readily by division. 



D. aizoon (Evergreen Whitlow-Grass). 

 A native of the mountains of Carinthia, 

 and a vigorous grower ; the leaves" of a 

 dark green, and arranged so as to form 

 a complete rosette, not unlike the Semper- 

 vivums. From the centre of this rosette 

 it sends up a stem 5 or 6 inches long, 

 bearing numbers of bright-yellow flowers, 

 and ripens its seeds freely. Draba bceotica 

 I am disposed to consider a narrow-leaved 

 form of the above. In the cultivation of 

 both it must be borne in mind that, un- 

 like D. aizoides, the old stems will never 

 throw out roots, consequently they cannot 



be classed as spreading plants. They 

 increase freely from seed, some of which 

 it would be interesting to sow on old 

 walls. 



Draba alpina (Alpine Wliitkiv-Grass). 

 An arctic plant, with dark green, smooth 

 leaves, growing about 2 inches high, and 

 bearing bright golden flowers. It is 

 rather a delicate plant, and best adapted 

 for pot culture, or well-drained chinks 

 in the rock-garden. The true species is 

 somewhat scarce in cultivation. It, like 

 D. tridentata, is liable to suffer from slugs, 

 and both should be carefully guarded 

 against their attacks, especially during 

 the winter months. Allied to this is 

 Draba aurea, a Danish plant, with flowers 

 produced in a dense corymb, on a leafy 

 stem some 8 or 9 inches high ; the habit 

 is not neat, otherwise it is a well-defined 

 species. 



D. ciliata (Eye-lashed Whitlow-Grass). 

 This is a good white Draba, not unlike 

 a diminutive specimen of Arabis albida. 

 The leaves are sparsely but distinctly 

 ciliated, in loose rosettes. Flowers in 

 early spring ; pure white, about eight on 

 a stem, the whole plant when in bloom 

 not being more than 2 inches high. 

 Mountains of Croatia and Carniola. 



D. cinerea (Grey Wliitlow-Grass). This 

 native of Siberia, frequently called D. 

 borealis, is the most effective of the white- 

 flowering Drabas. Of dwarf habit, bear- 

 ing many clear white flowers in the 

 earliest spring, well relieved by the dark 

 green leaves, and of a free-growing habit, 

 it should be in every collection. Seeds 

 abundantly, and by that means, as well 

 as by division, it may readily be in- 

 creased. 



D. CUSpidata (Pointed Whitlow-Grass) 

 A native of the highest mountains in 

 Spain, with the points of each of the 

 ciliated leaves, of which the dense little 

 rosettes are formed, somewhat incurved, 

 and for close examination it is the gem 

 of the yellow Drabas, forming a thick 

 woody stem. It is only to be increased 

 by seed. 



D. lapponica, a native, as the name 

 indicates, of the arctic regions, though 

 bearing the aspect of D. rupestris, is 

 dwarfer in habit, and devoid of the 



