CISTAGE^-ROCKROSE FAMILY 



ROCKROSE 



Helidnthemum vulgare. 

 Helianthemum, Greek, the flower opening in the sunshine. 



Stem. — Low, procumbent, forming mats. 

 Leaves. — Evergreen, linear-lanceolate. 

 Flowers. — Mostly yellow, in terminal clusters. 

 Sepals. — Five; two exterior resembling bracts. 

 Petals. — Five, crumpled in the bud, soon falling. 

 Stamens. — Many; style one. 

 Seeds. — Many. 



A very pretty, low-growirig evergreen which forms broad clumps 

 that during the flowering -season are quite hidden by the mass 

 of bloom. Especially good for rock work. A Eurasian plant, 

 long cultivated, running into majiy forms and offered by the trade 

 under many specific names. It is the best Rockrose in cultivation. 



A native species, Helianthemum canadensis, a sturdy litde 

 plant, equal to living under hard conditions, is sometimes found 

 in northern rock gardens, bearing the two names of Frostweed 

 and of Sun Rose. It, too, forms a mat of spreading stems, and 

 bears two kinds of flowers, both yellow: some with showy co- 

 rolla and many stamens, others small and clustered along the 

 stem, with inconspicuous corolla and few stamens. 



It is rather interesting that the same plant should have the 

 name of Sun Rose and Frostweed. But the blossoms open best 

 under the direct rays of the sun, and the cracked bark of the 

 spreading stems holds the moisture which freezes into ice crystals 

 at the root. The two characteristics have suggested names that 

 seemingly oppose each other. 



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