Part II. CORTUSA—CORYDALIS. 175 



species, attaining a height of fifteen to eighteen inches, and 

 bearing numerous yellow flowers, is somewhat too large for 

 association with small alpine plants, but, being an ornamental 

 species, is excellent for the rougher parts of the rock-garden or 

 for the mixed border. 



CORTtrSA MATTHIOLI.— ^//z«« Sanicle. 



Somewhat like the tender Primula mollis, with large seven- or 

 nine-lobed leaves, the leaf-stalks thickly and the leaves sparsely 

 covered with colourless short hairs. A wiry thread of vascular 

 matter runs through the stem leaves, and may be drawn through 

 the blades as well as footstalk of the leaves without breaking. 

 The flowers, borne on stems about flfteen inches high, very downy 

 on the lower half and smooth above, are pendulous, and of a 

 peculiarly rich and deep purplish crimson, with a white ring 

 at the base of the cup, six to twelve being borne on a stem. It 

 does well on rockwork, especially in the angle formed by two 

 rocks where its leaves cannot be torn with the wind. Flowers in 

 early summer, and comes from the Alps of Piedmont and Ger- 

 many ; increased by careful division of the root, or more abun- 

 dantly by seed sown as soon as possible after being gathered. 



COEYDALIS LUTEA.— y«//i3W Fumitory. 



This well-known plant is not so much esteemed as it deserves, 

 for not only are its graceful masses of much cut, delicate pale- 

 green leaves profusely dotted over with spurred yellow flowers, 

 very pleasing in borders, but it grows to perfection on walls, 

 which renders it doubly valuable. I have seen it in the most 

 unlikely spots on walls in hot as well as in cold and moist 

 countries, and know nothing to surpass it for garnishing ruins, 

 walls, stony places, and poor bare banks, the tufts often looking 

 as full of flower and vigorous when emerging from some old 

 chink where a drop of rain never falls upon them, as when 

 planted in fertile soil. It also makes a handsome border-plant, 

 and is well suited for the rougher kind of rock and root work. 

 A naturalised plant in England, and widely spread over Conti- 

 nental Europe. Readily increased by division or by seeds ; in 

 any stony position it spreads about with weed-like rapidity. 



