50 
FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE 
WALLFLOWERS 
Natural Order Crucifer.®. Genus Cheiranthus 
Cheiranthus (Greek, cheiros , hand, and anthos, flower). The botanical 
characters of this genus differ but slightly from those of Matthiola, but 
whereas all the sepals in that genus are green and alike, in Cheiranthus 
they are coloured and the two lateral ones are bulged ( saccate ) at the base, 
the leaves are sometimes toothed, and the hairs on the plant are forked. 
It is not an extensive genus, only about twelve species being known, and 
these are natives of the north temperate and polar regions. 
Cheiranthus Cheiri, the Wallflower, has been so long 
ffistOTy. na turalised in this country that those persons may be 
pardoned who regard it as indigenous, when they behold old ruins ablaze 
with its yellow blossoms. It was introduced from the Continent in 1573, 
and has been in our gardens ever since, getting improved both in colour 
and form, and even escaping to adjacent old walls, to lead a more natural 
existence, and to defy the fury of the roughest gales. It is never found 
thus growing away from the present or former habitations of man. Many 
varieties, double and single, have originated in gardens partly from 
selection, partly as the result of hybridisation. In 1777, C. mutabUis 
was introduced from Madeira, whose flowers, at first cream-coloured, 
change to purple. C. scoparius, from Teneriffe (1812), similarly changes 
from white to purple. (Probably forms of the same species.) C. 
semperjlorens, which may be found in bloom any day in the year, came 
from Morocco in 1815. All these are evergreen. 
Species Cheiranthus alpinus (alpine). 6 inches; leaves dis¬ 
tinctly toothed; flowers pale yellow, abundant; May to July. 
North Europe (1810). 
C. Cheiri (hand-flower). 2 feet; leaves lance-shaped, entire; 
flowers in wild condition always yellow, but varying, light brown, red, 
or dark brown, under cultivation ; fragrant. Chiefly spring flowering. 
C. Menziesii (Menzies’). 6 to 8 inches; a Californian perennial 
with long branching rootstock, radical woolly leaves, and purple flowers, 
appearing in spring. Half hardy. 
Garden Varieties. These are numerous, but are chiefly distinguished by 
gradations of colour, and each tint has its doubles and its 
singles. Of these, the double yellow, dcpble light brown, and 
double dark brown are to be recommended, whilst from the singles 
should be selected Blood-red, Belvoir Castle, yellow, Tom Thumb. 
orange, and Harbinger. 
