332 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



nodding, solitary at end of branchlets, deep blue; June to September. 

 Native. There are several varieties, among them alba, with white 

 flowers; Hostii with larger flowers of richer blue; flore j>leno, with 

 double flowers, etc. 



C. SPECiosA (showy). Stem unbranched, 12 to 18 inches high. 

 Radical leaves narrow -lance -shaped, forming a rosette; stem-leaves 

 slender; all stalkless with rounded teeth. Flowers blue, purple, or 

 white, in a pyramidal raceme; June and July. Introduced from the 

 Pyrenees, 1820. 



C. THYRSOIDES (bearing dense panicles). Stems unbranched, 12 to 

 18 inches high. Leaves lance-shaped, hairy. Flowers sulphur-yellow, in 

 dense spike ; July. A biennial. Introduced from European Alps, 1785. 

 C. Trachelium (Throatwort-like). Nettle - leaved Bellflower. 

 Stems angular, 2 to 4 feet high. Leaves all stalked, oval-lance-shaped, 

 doubly toothed. Flowers blue-purple, in panicled racemes ; September 

 and October. Whole plant bristly. Native. There is a var. flore pUno 

 with double flowers of various shades between blue and white. 



C. Van Houttei (Van Houtte's). Stem 2 feet high. Radical leaves 

 round-heart-shaped, stalked, round-toothed; stem-leaves oblong-lance- 

 shaped, saw -toothed, stalkless. Flowers dark blue, 2 inches long, 

 drooping; July and August. A garden hybrid. 



C. ViDALii (Vidal's). A shrubby perennial, with branching stem 1 

 foot high, and oblong, shining, green fleshy leaves. The flowers are borne 

 on erect scapes about a foot high, and are nodding, wax-like white bells 

 about an inch long. Greenhouse. Azores. 



Cultivation. ^^^^ °^ ^^^^ members of this genus are very easily 



gi-own, but from the great variety of sizes some discrimina- 

 tion must be shown in placing them. A reference to the figures of height 

 given above is sufficient clue. The tall-gi-owing should be placed in the 

 imddlL' row of the border; those of medium height in front of this line, 

 and the dwarfs in the very front, or in the rock-garden. The latter is 

 the most appropriate place for these diminutive kinds; they also look 

 well in pots. For all the situation must be a well-drained one, and the 

 soil most generally suitable for them is rich sandy loam. The alpines 

 like some amount of grit and leaf-mould added, and during the crrowino- 

 penod require plenty of water._ C. p>jvamidaUs is somewhat*' tende?, 

 an< s umhl hav.^ trame protection in the winter : repotting early in summer. 

 .-ee^ oL the ineniuals, such as C. medium and C. thyrsouh',, should be 

 so\Mi about June in cold frames, or on an open seed-bed. Seeds of the 

 perennials may be sown a.s soon as ripe or in the spring. Propagation 

 of the perennial species, however, is chiefly efl-ected by dividincr the 



