CHAPTER XV 



BULBOUS AND TUBEROUS ROOTED 

 PLANTS 



IF we look to the greater array of tufted and other 

 alpines for providing the richer floral wealth of the 

 rock garden, no matter what the season of the year, 

 there still remains a few — a notable minority it may 

 be — which, embraced tmder the above heading, cannot 

 well be ignored. Viewed collectively they might be 

 said to constitute an interesting assembly, though, if 

 regarded in greater detail, the interest develops into 

 importance. To get an idea of their variety and the 

 lengthy season covered by their flowering we have but 

 to recall the winter Aconite, Snowdrop, early buibous 

 Irises, winter, spring- and autumn flowering Crocuses, 

 the richness of the Chionodoxas budding as it were 

 with the melting snow, the exquisite charm of cer- 

 tain Anemones, particularly those allied to the 

 Grecian Windflower (A. blanda) our own Wood 

 Anemone (A. nemoroSa), than whose sky-blue 

 forms the genus holds nothing half so precious 

 to the spring gardener. There is beauty also 

 both of leaf and blossom in the spring and autumn 

 flowering Cyclamen, such extensive groups as the 

 Fritillaries and Dog^s Tooth Violets adding quaint- 

 ness or interest over a very considerable period. Apart 

 from these is the grace and charm of "Wood 

 Lily" (Trillium) and the unusual vigour of the meadow 

 Saffrons (Colchicums), the two genera while rich in 

 variety flowering at widely diverse seasons of the year. 

 Then, without greatly straining a point, one might 

 include the well-known Primula Sieboldi, which, if 

 neither bulbous or tuberoiis rooted, is certainly rhizo- 



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