SOWBREADS 363 



For at least throe centuries we have grown Cyclamens, 

 for the fragrant, bright-red-flowered G. eurojxeum, and the 

 inodorous C. couvi, were in our gardens prior to 159G, and C. hedercvfolium, 

 whether truly indigenous to Britain or merely naturalised, had been 

 here probably earlier than C. europc(ium. C. pevsiciiin, whose varieties 

 are so popular as pot-plants for conservatory and window decoration, 

 was introduced from the East in 1731 ; unfortunately, it is not so hardy 

 as the foregoing species and some others. C. neapolitanum came from 

 Italy in 1824, and C. cilicicmn was introduced from Cilicia so recently 

 as 1872. G. Atkins ii is of garden origin, having been raised by Mr. 

 Atkins of Painswick from seeds of G. ihericum. 



Cyclamen africanum (African). Tuber large, with 

 nncip P®'^®^-j.oQJ^.fi]bres from all parts. Leaves round - heart - shaped, 

 G to 8 inches across, strongly toothed ; marbled with white. Flowei-s 

 white or pale red, with purple blotches round the mouth of the tube ; 

 corolla-segments about an inch long ; September and October, before the 

 leaves ; height 4 inches. Native of Algeria. 



C. Atkinsii (Atkins'). Tuber globose, with root-fibres in tuft from 

 base. Leaves appearing with the flowers, rounded, oval, zoned with 

 white. Flowei-s of various shades of rose and red freely produced in 

 winter and early spring. There is also a var. album with pure white 

 flowers. These are very hardy. 



C. CILICICUM (Cilician). Tuber depressed, with root-fibres in a 

 bunch from base. Leaves almost round, untoothed, appearing with 

 flowers in October. Flowers pure white, with a purple blotch at base 

 of each segment. 



C. COUM (native of Coum). Tuber depressed, root-fibres from base. 

 Leaves round, untoothed, pui-ple beneath, on short leaf -stalks ; appearing 

 with the flowers in February and March. Flowers smaller than in any 

 other species, inodorous, deep red, with darker spot at base of corolla- 

 segments. There is a white var. album, and a rosy red var. cameum. 

 Hardy. 



C. EUROPIUM (European). Tuber depressed, with root-fibres from 

 the lower half generally ; leaves and flowers often two or three inches away 

 from tuber, connected by means of a rhizome. Leaves heart-shaped; 

 entire or with minute teeth ; prettily marbled and tessellated ; produced 

 at same time as flowers. Flowers bright reddish purple; August to 

 October. Height 4 inches. Hardy. 



C. HEDER^FOLiUM (Ivy-leaved). Tuber 1 to 3 inches (sometimes 

 much more) across, turnip -shaped, root -fibres from the whole of its 

 surface. Leaves heart-shaped in general outline, but five- to nine-angled, 



