PART II.] 



ALPINE FLOWERS FOR GARDENS 



HYDROCHARIS MORSUS-RANjE 



(Frog-bit). A pretty native water- 

 plant, having floating leaves and white 

 flowers, and well worth introducing in 

 pools. It may often be gathered from 

 neighbouring ponds in spring, when 

 the plants float again after being sub- 

 merged in winter. 



HYDROCOTYLE (Pennywort) 

 Small creeping plants, usually with 

 round leaves and inconspicuous flowers. 

 There are several kinds grown, their 

 only use being as a surface growth 

 to the artificial bog. The most desir- 

 able are H. moschata and microphylla, 

 two New Zealand species, and nitidula, 

 though all of these are somewhat 

 tender. The common H. vulgaris is 

 rather too rank a grower. 



HYPERICUM (St John's Wort).- 

 Handsome shrubs, some dwarf, and 

 occasionally of much beauty for the 

 rock-garden, where the best of the 

 larger ones may be used among the 

 shrubs. They are usually of easy 

 culture in ordinary soils. Some of 

 the perennials are good rock-plants, 

 and the best of these is H. olympicum, 

 one of the largest flowered kinds, 

 though not more than 1 foot high. 

 It is known by its very glaucous 

 foliage, and erect single stems, with 

 bright yellow flowers about 2 inches 

 across. It may be propagated easily 

 by cuttings, which should be put in 

 when the shoots are fully ripened,- so 

 that the young plants may become 

 well established before winter. H. 

 nummularium and humifusum, both 

 dwarf trailers, are also desirable, and, 

 owing to their dwarf compact growth, 

 several of the shrubby species are well 

 suited for the rock-garden. Of these, 

 the best are H. cegyptiacum, balearicum, 

 empetrifoliwn, Coris, patulum, uralum, 

 and oUongifolium. The last three 



are larger than the others, but as they 

 droop they have a good effect among 

 the boulders of a large rock-garden, 

 or on banks. H. Hookerianum, tri- 

 florum, aureum, orientals are among 

 the kinds having some beauty, but 

 the species from warmer countries 

 than ours are apt to disappear after 

 hard winters. H. Moserianum is a 

 handsome hybrid kind. 



Hypericum reptans is a beautiful 

 dwarf, and graceful trailer, with small 

 leaves, and wiry prostrate branches, each 

 of which bears a single flower at its tip. 

 In proportion to the size of the foliage the 

 flower is very large, as it reaches If inches 

 in diameter. This is, best seen when 

 grown between stones, and allowed to 

 carpet a sloping or perpendicular surface. 

 Himalaya. 



Among other kinds worth a place are 

 H. Budlleyi, and H. empetrifolium. 



Hypericum polophyllum. 



IBERIDELLA ROTUNDIFOLIA 



(Hound-leaved /.). A distinct plant, 

 rarely more than a few inches high, 

 with pretty, rosy-lilac, sweet-scented 

 flowers in April, May, and June. The 

 leaves are thick, smooth, leathery, and 

 of a glaucous olive-green, and the 

 flowers are produced in short racemes 

 or corymbs, and usually attain a 

 height of from 3 to 6 inches. Flower- 

 ing with the vernal Gentian, the Bird's- 

 Eye Primrose, the alpine Silene, and 



