Part II. ANDROSACE. 133 



the surface and ciliated at the margin, the old leaves not forming 

 a column beneath each rosette. It is, however, sufficiently 

 distinct for garden purposes. Androsace cylindrica is another 

 variety with the stems rising to half an inch high, with persistent 

 leaves which form jcolumns on the stems. It is by some con- 

 sidered a species, bears pure white flowers in spring, and 

 should be treated like A. pubescens.- 



ANDSOSACE PYEENAICA.— /^r^w^aw A. 



This spreads out into such a very dwarf, compact, and cushioned 

 mass of tiny grey rosettes that one could almost use it for a pin- 

 cushion. It is something like the Swiss Androsace, but the 

 paper-white flowers with yellowish eyes are not quite so well 

 formed as those of that kind, and the flower, instead of being 

 seated or almost seated in the rosettes of leaves, rises on a 

 stem from a quarter to half an inch high. The leaves are 

 downy and have a keel at the back, and, like those of A. hel- 

 vetica, the old leaves are persistent, and remain in little columns 

 below the living rosette. This plant has been grown to great 

 perfection by Mr. James Backhouse, of York, in fissures between 

 large rocks, with, however, deep rifts of sandy peat and loam 

 in them. In such a position it is more likely to be safe from 

 the encroachments of rampant neighbours of the vegetable, or 

 creeping things of the animal, kingdom. It will also grow on 

 a level exposed spot, but in such a position should be sur- 

 rounded by half-buried stones. 



ANDROSACE VILLOSA— 5/%(Zg0/ A. 



A VERY pretty dwarf species, found on many parts of the Alps, 

 Pyrenees, and mountains of Dauphiny, with leaves aijd stems 

 thickly covered with soft white hair or down. The leaves are 

 mostly covered with the silky hairs on the under side, united in 

 a sub-globular rosette, and bear in umbels white or pale rosy 

 flowers with purplish or yellowish eyes, on stems from two to four 

 inches high. It is more inclined to spread than any of the nearly 

 allied sorts, as it throws out runners, and is therefore suitable 

 for planting so that one side of the specimen may fall down the 

 face of a rock. It should be planted in loam and a mixture of 

 peat, in a properly made fissure between limestone rocks or 

 large stones ; but it may also be grown on level spots on rock- 



