Dielytra Spedahilis. 77 



ciety, were objects of great attraction. Its strong and grace- 

 ful racemes of lovely pink flowers, rendered doubly beau- 

 tiful from their peculia», yet elegant form, so well delineated 

 in our figure, give it a charm which few, if any, of our 

 hardy plants possess. It is not till the plants get well estab- 

 lished that they show what an elegant thing it is. 



The Dielytra spectabilis has proved perfectly hardy in our 

 gardens. It grows from three to four feet high, with large 

 compoundly ternate leaves — not unlike some of the tree 

 pasonies, — with the same glaucous aspect, and from the base 

 of its plentiful foliage, spring strong stems which branch oflf 

 in axillary racemes, drooping prettily, and loaded with blos- 

 soms, each about an inch long. These appear in June, and 

 continue in flower for a long time. 



Botanists appear to differ in regard to its name. LinncBiis 

 called it Fumaria spectabilis ; Persooji, Corydalis spectabilis ; 

 Borkhmise?i, Capnorchis spectabilis ; Decandolle, Dielytra 

 spectabilis, and Van Hoiitte, Dicentra spectabilis ; but Die- 

 lytra seems to be now generally adopted. Mr. Fortune 

 states that its Chinese name is Hong-Pah-Moiitan Wha, or 

 the " Red and White Moutan flower ;" the Chinese take 

 their characters from the general habit, and as the leaves 

 resemble the Moutan paeony, they call it the " Red and 

 White Moutan flower." 



The species is not only a fine hardy plant, but is admirably 

 adapted for pot cultivation, blooming abundantly and freely 

 imder ordinary treatment. Two years ago, (Vol. XVII, p. 

 321,) we saw it in bloom in the collection of Messrs. Hogg 60 

 Son, of Yorkville, N. Y. It may also be had in bloom late 

 in the season by growing it from cuttings and planting them 

 out, when they flower in August and September. 



It thrives in any good garden soil ; but that which is light, 

 rich and deep, suits it best ; in such a situation it will pro- 

 duce a dozen or more of its stems, covered with hundreds of 

 flowers. A slight protection of leaves or litter is sufficient in 

 winter. To grow it in the greenhouse the roots should be 

 taken up carefully and potted, in September or October, and 

 afterwards placed in a half shady situation till frost. It may 



