390 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



C L L M I A S 



Natural Order PoLEMONiACEiE. Genus Collomia 



CoLLOJiiA (Greek, holla, glue ; the coating of the seeds). A small genus 

 — about a dozen species — of dwarf hardy annuals allied to Gilia but 

 diftering in the form of corolla, which is salver-shaped, and in the general 

 habit of the plants. The leaves are alternate, and the flowers are 

 clustered in dense terminal heads. They are confined to the Western 

 side of the American continent. The name of the genus was suggested 

 by the remarkable character of the seeds, or rather their outer covering. 

 If the seeds are placed in water this envelope swells up and forms a 

 glutinous cloud around them. 



CoLLOMiA cocciNEA (scarlet). Stems erect, branched, 

 Principal species.^^^^^^ 12 to 18 inches high. Leaves narrowly lance- 

 shaped, upper ones broader with a few bold teeth. Flowers deep red, 

 tube buff; June to September. Introduced from Chili, 1831. Plate 

 188. 



C. GRANDIFLORA (large -flowered). Stems erect, branched, downy 

 near top, 1| to 2 feet high. Leaves oblong-lance-shaped, entire, shining, 

 fringed with glandular hairs. Flowers butf or pink, in half-round sticky 

 heads ; June to October. 



Collomias are of easy cultivation in almost any garden 

 il. Seed should be sown where the plants are to flower, 

 in March or April, and the young plants thinned out until they are about 

 two inches apart. 

 DescriptioQ of CoUoTiiia coccinea. Fig. 1, separate flower enlarged; 



JACOB'S LADDERS 



Natural Order PoLEMONiACEiE. Genus Pohmonium 



PoLEMONiUM (Greek, iwlemos, war ; of doubtful application). A genus 

 of nine perennial herbs, with alternate pinnate leaves, and blue, violet, or 

 white flowers, The calyx is bell-shaped, five-lobed ; the corolla wheel- 

 shaped with five egg-shaped lobes. Stamens five, inserted on throat of 

 corolla-tube ; ovary egg-shaped with thread-like style and three-branched 

 stigma. The species are natives of Europe, Temperate Asia, North 



