98 SUB-ALPINE PLANTS 



Dianthus subacaulis Vill. 



This small species is well-suited to the rockery, and especially 

 on limestone, like the Cheddar Pink, but it does not seem known 

 in this coimtry. The root is woody, and it sends up tufts of short, 

 rough, linear leaves ; stem angular, simple, from 2-6 inches high. 

 Flowers rose, rather small, solitary. Scales of the calyx broad, 

 short (J to i the length of the calyx), and with short point. Calyx 

 short, striated above, with ovate teeth. Petals entire or crenate. 

 Capsule conical. A variable species. 



Rocks and rocky pastures, especially on limestone. May to 

 August. 



Distribution. — ^Alps of Dauphin^ and Provence, Cevennes, 

 Eastern Pyrenees ; Spain. 



Gypsophila L. 



Calyx short, campanulate, pentagonal, without scales at the base. 

 Petals 5, gradually narrowed to the base, without a corona. Styles 2. 

 Stamens 10. Capsule with i cell and numerous seeds. 



About 55 species inhabiting Europe and Asia. 



Gypsophila repens L. (Plate XV.) 



Root tapering, branched. Stem 3-6 inches high, erect or ascend- 

 ing, simple or branched above, glabrous hke the leaves. Leaves 

 linear-lanceolate or linear, entire, acute, bluish green, moderately 

 thick. Flowers in loose paniculate cymes. Petals 2-3 lines long, 

 white or pale rose-coloured, more or less emarginate. Calyx beU- 

 shaped, 5-cleft ; teeth lanceolate, membranous at the margin, 

 i-nerved, straight, obtuse, with a short mucro. Capsule sub- 

 globular, obtuse, with a very short carpophore. 



Dry, rocky, and gravelly places in the calcareous Alps and 

 sub-Alps,^ 3000-8000 feet. July, August. 



Distribution. — Eastern, Central, and Western Alps, from Savoy 

 to Roumania and the Carpathians ; Central Pyrenees, Jura, Poland, 

 Germany. 



Very easily grown in dry, surmy places, and increased by layers, 

 or from seed. It quickly forms mats of dense foUage and flowering 

 spikes, and hence is very suitable for covering ugly rocks, etc. 



Saponaria 



Calyx tubular, 5-toothed, without scales at the base. Petals with 

 a corona. Disc small. Styles 2. Ovary 2-celled at the base. 

 Capsule 4-valved. 



This genus, artificially distinguished by the number of styles, 

 as Bentham says, comprises several European and West Asiatic 

 species. 



' On granite its place is taken by Stlene rupestris. 



