472 



FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 



M. Jalapa (Jalap). Common Marvel of Peru. Stem much branched, 

 2 to 3 feet high. Leaves broad, oblong. Flowers fragrant; white, 

 yellow, crimson, or purple, selfs or variously striped or spotted ; June 

 to September. Half-hardy perennial. 



M. LONGIFLORA (long-flowered). Stem branching from the base, 2 

 feet high. Leaves heart-shaped. Flowers variably white, pink, violet ; 

 fragrant, with long, sticky tube ; July. Hardy perennial. 



M. MULTIFLORA (many-flowered). Stem downy, 2 feet high. 

 Leaves oval, downy. Flowers purple, 2 inches long; July. Hardy 

 perennial. 



Mirabilis is a genus of easy culture, that ought to be 

 c iva on. ^^^Ye widely grown than is customary. Though they 

 prefer an open, loamy soil, they will do well in most gardens. They are 

 usually grown as annuals, sowing the seeds in a warm frame or green- 

 house in March, and planting out when the weather has become genial. 

 But they develop thick fleshy roots like those of the Dahlia, which may 

 be lifted in autumn and stored in a dry place during winter, then started 

 in a little warmth in spring. By this method much larger plants may 

 be obtained, with much finer floral effects. 

 Description of Mirabilis Jalapa, the Common Marvel of Peru, show- 



piatc 226. iiig various colours of flowers. Fig. 1 is a section of the 

 flower ; 2, the seed enclosed in a portion of the perianth ; 3, a seedling. 



ABRONIAS 



Natural Order Nyctagine^. Genus Ahrmiia 



Abronia (Greek, abros, elegant). A genus of about seven dwarf peren- 

 nial herbs, of trailing habit with opposite leaves, and heads of funnel- 

 shaped flowei-s surrounded with a finely-divided involucre. The flower- 

 clusters are not unlike those of Verbena. There are five stamens. The 

 species are restricted to North- West America. 



p^ . Abronia arenaria (sand -loving). Sand Verbena. 



"Stems from 9 to 18 inches high. Leaves sticky, kidney- 

 shaped with short thick stalks. Flowers fragrant, yellow, ^-inch long; 

 in dense heads; July. Half-hardy. Introduced from California, 

 1865. 



A. UMBELLATA (umbel-flowered). Stem prostrate, branches erect, 1 

 to 2 feet high. Leaves oval or oblong on long stalks. Flowers rosy 

 pink, slightly fragrant ; in small dense terminal heads ; April. Intro- 



