6i2 Classification of Plants. 



and a few of the Filices or Ferns. Without entering into details, 

 which will be found elsewhere, we may indicate a few of the 

 best of those most readily procured : Bocconia cordata, GKmnera 

 scabra, Heracleum flavescens, Ferula communis, Rheum undu- 

 latum, Polygonum cuspidatum, Bambusa falcata, Grynerium 

 argenteum, Cannabis sativa, Asparagus officinalis, Aspidistra 

 lurida, Phormium tenax, Osmunda regalis, Polystichum 

 aculeatum, Pteris aquilina, Lastrea dilatata, L. Filix-mas and 

 Athyrium Filix-foemina. Several others might be included in 

 this enumeration, but they find a place more properly with the 

 marsh and water plants. Ricinus communis and Melianthus 

 major are usually treated as herbaceous, the former as an annual 

 and the latter as a perennial. The next group comprises 

 plants of moderate size, and includes numerous species with 

 variegated or coloured foliage, several of which are tender 

 and only employed for summer decoration. But as almost 

 all hardy genera and a vast number of species are represented 

 by variegated varieties, it will be obvious that we must limit 

 ourselves to a selection of those grown exclusively for their 

 foliage. A few may be mentioned here with the foliage plants 

 that are equally desirable for their flowers, such as Astilbe 

 Japonica, Spiraea Filipendula, S. Aruncus, etc., Polemonium 

 caeruleum, Amaranthus caudatus, and A. melancholicus, Pelar- 

 gonium varieties, Morina longifolia, Canna species and varieties, 

 Achillea spp., etc. Others, again as Centaurea Ragusina and 

 other species, Ligularia Kasmpferi, Cineraria maritima, Perilla 

 Nankinensis, Iresine "Herbstii, etc., Coleus (many varieties), 

 Funkia, Brassica, Lamium maculatuin, Phalaris arundinacea 

 variegata, Mentha rotundifolia variegata, and Tricolor Pelar- 

 goniums are grown for their variegated or coloured foliage. 

 Amongst dwarf or trailing plants, the variegated or coloured 

 varieties of Arabis albida, A. lucida, Grazania splendens, 

 Bellis perennis, Trifolium repens, Alternanthera (various), 

 Alyssum maritimum, Thymus vulgaris, etc., are some of 

 the best for front rows or for edging. Cerastium tomen- 

 tosum, Helichrysum petiolatum, and Stachys lanata, have 

 greyish, or silvery velvety foliage. Another set of dwarf 

 plants, belonging chiefly to the Crassulaceaa and Saxifragacea?, 

 are in request, on account of their formal habit, and the regular 

 disposition of their variously tinted leaves in rosettes. With 

 the foregoing, many tender herbs and shrubs with ornamental 

 foliage are associated, including several species of Solanum, 



