354 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



down the scape. The flowers are five-parted, as in Statice ; the calyx 

 funnel-shaped, dry and translucent (scarious), the petals of a tough, 

 persistent character, joined together by their bases. The stamens are 

 attached to the petals by the dilated base of the filament ; the ovary egg- 

 shaped, the hair-like stigmas covered with little ixtpillcc. The species 

 are natives of Alpine, Arctic, and maritime North Temperate regions, 

 also of Chili ; two indigenous to the British Islands. 



^ Armeria maritima (or vidyaris), the most widely- 



cultivated species, is a native of our own rocky coasts and 

 lofty mountains. Any gardener to whom Thrift was unknown, and who 

 happened to witness the glorious display it makes on some of our cliffs 

 from April to June, would be struck with its obvious fitness for garden 

 purposes, and filled with the desire to transplant it. So we may be 

 sure it struck the early gardeners; but useful as it has long been in 

 horticulture, it cannot reproduce in gardens the charming effects of its 

 growth on rugged cliffs. Its proper place is in the rock-garden, where 

 it shows to the greatest advantage ; but it can be very profitably used as 

 an edging. Not content with our native species, we introduced from 

 Portugal, in 1740, A. latifolia, a taller-growing species with more deeply- 

 coloured flowers ; and at intervals since, other species have been -brought 

 under cultivation. 



Principal species Armeria dianthoides (Pink-like). Scapes 6 inches 



'high. Leaves spreading, flattened, slightly downy. 

 Flowers light pink; May and June. Introduced from South Europe, 

 1810. 



A. JUNCEA (Rush-like). Scapes 3 inches high. Leaves small, 

 rounded, erect. Flowers rose-pink in small heads. An alpine species 

 from Southern France. 



A. JUNIPERIFOLIA (Juniper-leaved). Scapes G inches high. Leaves 

 short, stifl", erect. Flowers deep rose ; May and June. Introduced from 

 Spain, 1818. 



A. MARITIMA (belonging to the sea). Scape 3 to 12 inches high. 

 Leaves in dense clusters, less than |-incli broad, covered with impressed 

 dots above and below. Flowers rose-pink or white ; April to October. 

 Native. Also known as A. vulgaris. 



A. PLANTAGINEA (Plantain-like). Scape 12 inches high. Plant 

 stouter, larger, and more rigid than .4. ma ritinw. Leaves smooth, narrow- 

 lance-shaped, as much as |-inch broad, with cartilaginous margins. 

 Flowers deep rose : June to August. Native of Jersey. 

 estivation. Armerins are propagated by seeds and divisions. 



Seeds should be sown in spring on sandy loam, and 



