170 HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 



S. atrorubens and odorus, natives of Hungary, 

 are also a little tender. 

 Figured in Bot. Mag. t. 4581. 

 R. orientalis is tender even with frame protection. 



The Epimedium. 



We consider this one of the most elegant plants 

 in our spring garden ; and no one who has seen the 

 showy and curious blossoms of E. niacranthum and 

 violaceum will dispute the assertion. The foliage is 

 very neat, finely toothed, and remains in full beauty 

 all summer ; the flowers, which are freely produced 

 in JMay, are singularly graceful. No description 

 can give an idea of them. All the species are 

 hardy perennials, and do well in any deep garden 

 loam, but succeed far better in the moist, rich soil 

 of a Rhododendron-bed, where we grow them in 

 great perfection. Of some twenty species the best 

 are macraiitlivm, pinnatuvi, diphylliim, with white 

 flowers, and violaceum, with white and jDurple flow- 

 ers ; all natives of Japan. 



U. alpimim is a European species, with reddish- 

 yellow flowers, which increases rapidly, and is a 

 good plant for covering the ground in shady places, 

 or under trees : it also thrives well on rock-work. 

 All the species are propagated by division ; but they 

 are impatient of disturbance, and should be removed 

 only when absolutely necessary, as they always are 

 some years in recovering from the effect. The 

 larger the clumps are the better, and the more 

 showy are they in foliage and flower. 



