Introduction. xxi 



For the rest, we have a few odd annuals from India, North- 

 east America, and the tropical regions of South America, and 

 various parts of Europe and Northern Asia; for example, 

 Amaranthus spp. from India, and Tropaeolum spp. from South 

 America. 



Biennials, as a class, are not very numerously represented in 

 gardens, and the majority of them if sown early will flower the 

 same season, though in a natural way the seed would germinate 

 soon after it is shed in autumn* They occur in all regions 

 where there is herbaceous vegetation. The principal species 

 are enumerated with the annuals, at page 617. 



Perennial herbaceous plants, as we have stated above, are 

 very abundant in almost all parts of the temperate regions of 

 the northern hemisphere. Those termed Alpine plants, that is, 

 growing in mountainous districts at a considerable altitude,- 

 are strongly represented in Europe. Indeed, by far the la'rger 

 proportion in cultivation are natives of the Alps proper and the 

 Pyrenees. Returning to the plains, North America stands perhaps 

 in the foremost rank ; but as many of the species are of compara- 

 tively recent introduction, they are not so rich in garden varie- 

 ties as those belonging to the Old World. The following are 

 some of the better known genera : Phlox Pentstemon, (Eno- 

 thera, Aster, Lilium, Lupinus, Aquilegia, Spiraea, and Helian- 

 thits ; to which might be added many others belonging to the 

 Malvaceae, Compositae, Scrophularineae, etc. Besides the Alpine 

 species alluded to above, Europe furnishes us with a large 

 number of our familiar perennials ; and, if we include North 

 Africa and Asia Minor, we have a considerable proportion of 

 those in general cultivation: Anemone, Ranunculus, Wall- 

 flower, Carnation, Pink, Paeonia, Auricula, Hyacinth, Holly- 

 hock, Campanula, Chrysanthemum (Pyrethrum) roseum, Myo- 

 sotis, Violet, Pansy, Tulip, Crocus, Narcissus, Antirrhinum, 

 Saxifrage and Lilium, will serve to illustrate this region. 

 Japan and China, taken together, offer many curious and in- 

 teresting species. And from these countries we may mention 

 that we have a large number of garden varieties, not only of 

 herbaceous plants, but also of shrubs introduced by various 

 travellers. The most important genus is Chrysanthemum. 

 Spiraea palmata, Dielytra spectabilis, Paeonia Moutari, Primula 



