PHACELIAS 393 



leaves. The flower-parts are in fives; calyx tive-lobed, with reflexed 

 teeth alternating with them ; corolla bell-shaped, five-lobed. The species 

 are natives of North America, and are all of comparatively recent 

 introduction. 



Nemophila insignis (remarkable). Stems decumbent, 

 anching, 6 to 18 inches high. Leaves pinnately lobed. 

 Flowers bright blue with white centre, more than an inch across ; May 

 to August. Introduced 1822. Plate 191. There are several varieties : 

 alba, with white flowers ; grandifiora, with blossoms larger than the 

 type; marginata, blue with a white edge; piirpurea-rosea, purple-rose. 

 N. MACULATA (spotted). Stems 6 inches high. Leaves hairy, 

 pinnately lobed. Flowers large, white, the lobes each bearing a violet- 

 purple blotch ; June to August. Introduced 1848. 



N. Menziesii (Menzies'). Stems 4 inches high. Leaves pinnately 

 lobed. Flowers white to light blue, usually spotted with a darker tint ; 

 corolla rotate ; June to August. Introduced 1836. There are several 

 varieties : alba, white with dark centre ; oeulata, pale blue with black 

 centre; cwlestis, blue with centre spotted white and blue; discoidalis 

 (a garden variety), purple-brown edged with white. 



Cultivation. Nemophilas succeed in most good garden soils, preferring 



those that are rather light. Their compact habit renders 

 them suitable for rock-gardens, 6r a front place in bed or borders ; they 

 may be used for edgings. The seed should be sown in autumn for a 

 spring display, and another sowing about April will give a succ( ' 

 lasting in flower throughout the summer. Sow thinly, and thin ( 

 four inches apart. 



Description of Nemopiiila insignis, one-fourth less than natural size. 



Plate 191. Yig. 1 is a section through enlarged flower ; 2, is the rugged 

 seed, natural size and enlarged ; 8, a seedling. 



PHACELIAS 



Natural Order Hydrophyllace^. Genus Phaeelia 



Phacelia (Greek, phakelos, a faggot or bundle ; in allusion to the 

 mflorescence). A genus of about fifty species of rough annual or 

 perennial herbs, mostly hardy, with blue, violet, or white flowers in 

 terminal cjTnes. Calyx five-lobed without alternating teeth ; corolla 

 five-lobed, varying from bell-shaped to funnel-shaped. The species are 

 almost confined to Western North America, Mexico, and the Chilian Andes 



