TOADFLAX ^^g 



consequence said to be personate (masked). Perfect stamens four two 

 long and two short. The species are distributed tliroughout Europe 

 North Africa, and Western Asia ; six are indigenous to Britain, whilst 

 a seventh— X. Cymhalaria— has thoroughly established itself on walls 

 and dykes, and an eighth-X. piirpurea~is locally naturalised. 



History. . '^^^^^'^ ^^ "o record of the introduction of I. Cy ynhalaria 

 into Britain. It is a plant of Europe extending from 

 Holland southwards, and was probably cultivated here at an early 

 period, for it is still used as a salad in South Europe, and probably was 

 formerly so used here. It has at least been here long enough to be now 

 widely dispersed, away from gardens and habitations. The earliest 

 Unana introduced from abroad of which we have record is L alpina 

 from the Austrian Alps in 1570. L. piwpurea, occasionally found wild 

 in this country, was introduced from South Europe in 1648. L trior- 

 nithophora came from Portugal in 1710, L. dalmatica from South- 

 Eastern Europe in 1731, Z. spartea from Spain in 1772, i. reticulata 

 from Algiers in 1788, L. Upartita from North Africa in 1815 and L 

 macroura from the Crimea in 1822. 



Principal Species.. , ^INARIA ALPINA (alpine). Stems densely tufted, G 

 mclies high. Leaves narrow-lance-shaped, thick, four in 

 a whorl. Flowers bluisli violet with golden centre, in short racemes' 

 Juno to October. Perennial. 



L. BiPARTiTA (twice-parted). Stem branched, 1 foot high. Leaves 

 narrow-lance-shaped, alternate. Flowers violet-purple, deep purple pale 

 Platl\o7 ^'''^''^' '"^ ^'''''' ''''''''''' ^''"'' ^"^ September. Annual. 

 L. Cymbalaria (boat-shaped). Mother of Thousands; Ivy-leaved 

 loadflax. Stems trailing and creeping. Leaves three- to seven-lobed 

 heart-shaped at base, concave ; purple beneath. Flowers blue-purple or 

 lilac, marked with yellow; solitary on long stalks; nearly all the year. 

 Perennial. There is a var. alha, with white flowei-s. 



L. DALMATICA (Dalmatian). Stem branched, very leafy, 8 to 4 feet 

 high. Leaves lance-shaped, broad or narrow. Flowers yellow, lar^e 

 terminal ; June to August. Perennial. ' * ' 



L. MACROURA (large-tailed). Stem erect, 12 to 18 inches. Leaves 

 very slender, glaucous. Flowers yellow, marked with deeper tint : spur 

 long and straight ; June to October. Perennial. 



L. PURPUREA (purple). Stem erect, branched, 1 to 3 feet. Leaves 

 slender or narrow-lance-shaped, whorled. Flowers in long, loose racemes • 

 bluish purple, edges of lip fringed with white hairs; July to September' 

 Perennial. ^ 



