94 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



This evergreen creeping shrub likes a shady place in sandy peat 

 and loam, or in good leaf mould, and can be increased when well 

 established by careful division. 



Poly gala alpinum Steudel. 



A small species, 2-4 inches high, with branched, recumbent stems. 

 Leaves oboval or oblong, forming a rosette ; stem-leaves narrower 

 and much smaller. Flowers pale blue, very small, in small, dense, 

 terminal heads. Capsule small, rather shorter, but broader than the 

 wings. 



Mountain pastures ; local. June, July. 



Distribution. — Western Alps, including Southern Switzerland, 

 Pyrenees. 



Polygala alpesiris Reichb. 



Stems numerous, woody, filiform, spreading, ascending. Lower 

 leaves short, broadly ovate, often forming a rosette ; upper leaves 

 longer, clothing the lower part of the panicle. Flowers small, pale 

 blue. Wings of calyx ovate, as broad as, and longer than the 

 capsule. 



Alpine and sub-alpine pastures, especially on limestone. June, 



July. 



Distribution. — Juras, Central and Western Alps, including 

 Piedmont. 



This species is not much understood, and is often confused with 

 P- alpina Perr. et Long. P. alpestris may perhaps be a form of 

 P. amara L., and it is synonymous with P. amarella Crantz var. 

 alpestris Borbas. 



For the rock-garden there are other more beautiful species than 

 the above which, though not Alpine, are more worthy of a place on 

 rockeries. P. nicceensis Risso, a Mediterranean plant extending 

 into the Maritime Alps up to 2000 feet, has handsome purple flowers. 

 The Common Milkwort P. vulgaris L., with flowers of blue, rose, pur- 

 ple, or white, attains a remarkable size in the mountains, and is 

 well worth more attention in our gardens, for it will grow anywhere 

 and is very pretty. 



CARYOPHYLLACE^ 



Aimual or perennial herbs, with opposite, entire leaves, and no 

 stipules, except in a few genera which have small, scarious stipules ; 

 the branches usually knotted at each pair of leaves. Flowers 

 frequently in dichotomous cymes or panicles. Sepals 4 or 5, free 

 or united into a tubular calyx. Petals 4 or 5, twisted in the bud, 

 sometimes minute. Stamens free, inserted under the ovary. 

 Styles 2 to 5, linear, stigmatic along their whole length. Capsule 

 i-celled, or divided into cells at the base only, opening at the top 

 into twice as many teeth as there are styles. Ovules numerous. 



