NEW HERBACEOUS PLANTS 235 



stems from three to four feet tall. In central China 

 this plant is a weed of cultivation and when sending 

 it home I little thought that it would so quickly 

 develop into such a charming and useful garden plant. 

 It may be increased easily from seeds or by division 

 of the rootstock. 



Few subjects are more popular for pot-forcing 

 for winter work than Astilbe japonica and A. astil- 

 boides, both old but indispensable plants. Their 

 recently discovered relatives, A. Davidii and A. 

 grandis, are not useful for this purpose; but for the 

 moist border and the waterside they possess much 

 higher claims than our old friends. David's Astilbe 

 was the first of the two known and caused quite a 

 sensation when exhibited. The flowers are of a 

 peculiar shade of red, known before only in the 

 Loosestrife (Ly thrum Salicaria), and the anthers are 

 blue. The flowering stems are six feet tall with the 

 flowers densely crowded on much-branched panicles 

 having ascending lateral branches and from two to two 

 and a half feet long. Partial shade is best for this 

 plant since in strong sun the flowers bleach. Astilbe 

 grandis is similar in habit and vigor of growth but 

 has pure white flowers larger than those of any other 

 Astilbe, and the lateral branches of the flower pan- 

 icle spread horizontally. The leaves of both species 



