NIEREMBERGIAS 417 



roundish-oval. Flowers white with yellowish tube ; September. Half- 



N. FiLiCAULis (thread-like stems). Stem erect, smooth, very 

 slender, 6 to 12 inches high. Leaves narrow-lance-shaped. Flowers 

 lilac with yellow centre ; May. Greenhouse perennial. 



N. FRUTESCENS (shrubby). Stem shrubby, 1 to 1| foot. Leaves 

 very slender, long. Flowers delicate blue paling to white at the margin ; 

 June. Hardy perennial, with habit and appearance of Flax. Plate 

 20L 



N. GRACILIS (slender). Stem somewhat erect, 6 to 12 inches high. 

 Leaves slender somewhat spoon-shaped, downy. Flowers white, streaked 

 with purple, and a yellow centre, tube very long ; July to September. 

 Half-hardy perennial. 



N. RivuLARis (brook-loving). Stems slender, branching, creeping 

 and interlacing. Leaves oblong or spoon-shaped, variable. Flowers 

 bell-shaped, white tinged with yellow or rose, 1 inch across; July. 

 Hardy perennial. 



N. Veitchii (Veitch's). Stems slender, branching, prostrate. Leaves 

 oval-oblong. Flowers pale lilac, with slender tube, about an inch long. 

 Greenhouse perennial, 

 cultivation. Nieremhergias like a light but fairly rich soil. A 



compost similar to that recommended for Petunias will 

 suit them very well, but it need not have so large a proportion of 

 manure. The quantities may stand thus : sandy loam three parts, well- 

 rotted manure one part, with a little sharp sand added. Propagation is 

 effected by means of seeds sown in spring or autumn, and grown in a 

 warm greenhouse ; or by cuttings taken in August and well - rooted 

 before wintering. During the cold weather they must be allowed 

 complete rest in a light airy greenhouse, and only given sufficient 

 water to prevent withering. Before growth recommences in spring 

 they should be repotted, whether it is intended to flower them in pots, 

 or to turn them out into the beds at a later period. The treatment of 

 the hardy species is the same as above, except that they do not require 

 wintering indoors unless the situation is very exposed or the season 

 very severe. N. rivularis requires a damper and more shady situation 

 than the others. 

 Deacription of Merembergia frutescens, one-fourth less than natural 



Plate 201. gize, showing variation of tints. Fig. 1 is a section of the 

 flower showing how the bell-shaped mouth is suddenly narrowed into 

 the very slender tube. 



