DESCRIPTIVE AND SELECTIVE. 249 



OURISIA COCCINEA,—A lovely and most 

 distinct little plant. Thriving in a cool, moist, half- 

 shady place, and producing its little spikes of scarlet 

 flowers in great abundance in late spring, it is an 

 uncommon plant, well worth growing. It may be 

 increased by division in early spring. It does not need 

 special soil, but enjoys peat. 



PAP AVER (Poppy). — ^The great scarlet Poppies of 

 the border have no place in the rock garden, but the 

 Alpine and Iceland Poppies are well adapted for, and 

 well worthy of, culture there. The former. Pap aver 

 Alpinum (see coloured plate), six inches high, has white, 

 yellow-centred flowers. There are several forms in 

 cultivation, and they can be bought in various shades, 

 such as white, pink and rose, orange and scarlet, and 

 yellow. They will thrive in ordinary soil in a sunny 

 spot. It is well to make regular sowings of seed if the 

 plant is a cherished one, as it is at the best a biennial. 

 The seed may be sown out of doors. The Iceland Poppy, 

 Pap aver nudicaule, is a great favourite. It has yellow 

 flowers, but there are several forms, such as fringed 

 white and orange. It will grow in almost any sunny 

 place. It is not a long-lived plant, and seed should 

 be sown every year or two where the plants are to grow. 



PARADISE A, — See Anthericum. 



PENTSTEMON. — This magnificent plant has now 

 become a florists* flower, and glorious strains of it can 

 be obtained . Long lists of named varieties are oflered. 

 There are no more beautiful flowers for the border in 

 late summer and autumn, and it is not surprising that 

 the thoughts of rock gardeners turn to so fair a genus, 



