CAMPANULACE^ 189 



About 12 species inhabiting temperate Europe and the Medi- 

 terranean region. 



Jasione montana L. Sheep's-bit. (Plate X.) 



An annual or biennial. Stems sometimes short and decumbent, 

 but more often erect, a foot high, with a few spreading branches. 

 Leaves linear-lanceolate, with wavy margin, more or less hairy. 

 Flower-heads variable in size, on long terminal peduncles. Invo- 

 lucral bracts broadly ovate. Florets small, rather pale blue, on 

 very short pedicels. 



Dry, sandy, and heathy places on siliceous soil in the plains and 

 mountains ; often in large colonies. June to September. 



Distribution. — Europe, except the extreme north, and eastward 

 to Asia Minor and the Caucasus ; North Africa. British Isles. 



Phyteuma L. Rampion. 



Flowers in dense heads or spikes, surrounded by an involucre of 

 bracts, usually blue. Corolla curved in bud, with 5 linear segments. 

 Anthers free and distinct. Style cleft at the top into 2 or 3 stigmas. 

 Capsule dehiscing below the middle, and crowned by the spreading 

 teeth of the calyx. 



A small genus spread over Europe and Western Asia, but chiefly 

 in mountain districts. 



Phyteuma comosum L. 



Stem about 8 inches high, somewhat prostrate, leafy. Flowers 

 on short stalks, forming a large terminal umbel, violet and hand- 

 some, the tip being darker than the rest of the corolla. Root-leaves 

 reniform, bright greerv, sharply serrated like the petioled stem- 

 leaves. Very distinct from all the other species. 



Clefts of Alpine and sub-alpine rocks ; 2300-5000 ft. May- July. 



Distribution. — -Carpathians, Tyrol, Carinthia, and Camiola. 

 Phyteuma Scheuchzeri All. 



Stem simple, i-ij feet high, striated. Leaves crenate, serrate, 

 the lower ones long-stalked, lanceolate, acuminate, those of the 

 barren shoots cordate, upper stem-leaves linear. Heads globular, 

 many-flowered ; outermost bracts linear, usually longer than the 

 capitulum. Flowers dark blue./ 



Stony Alpine and sub-alpine pastures, descending to a low eleva- 

 tion. May to July. 3000-7000 feet. 



Distribution. — Eastern and Central Alps, including Southern 

 Switzerland. Not in France. 



Phyteuma betoniccefolium Vill. (Plate IV.) ^ 



Very similar to the last in habit and shape of leaves, but the 

 ' The pale blue spike figured is probably P. spicatum. 



