1 84 ALPINE FLOWERS. Part II. 



plant.. Where it does not do well in the ordinary soil, it should 

 be tried in a deep bed of light loam, mingled with pieces of 

 broken stone. In all cases it is best to cover the ground with 

 cocoa-fibre. It is a very desirable species, on account of its de- 

 lightful fragrance and long succession of flowers. I have often 

 seen them luxuriate in the ddbris of old walls, and on the mountain- 

 side, with a very sparing quantity of vegetable earth to grow in. 



CYCLAMEN ■SEnERm-EOISmiL— Ivy-leaved C. 



A NATIVE of Switzerland, South Europe, Italy, Greece and its 

 isles, and the north coast of Africa. Tuber not unfrequently a 

 foot in diameter when full-grown ; its shape somewhat spheroidal, 

 depressed on the upper surface, rounded beneath. It is covered 

 with a brownish rough rind, which cracks irregularly, so as 

 to form little scales. The root fibres emerge from the whole of 

 the upper surface of the tuber, but principally from the rim ; few 

 or none issue from the lower surface. The leaves and flowers 

 generally spring direct from the tuber without the intervention 

 of any stem (a small stem, however, is sometimes produced, 

 especially if the tuber be planted deep) ; at first they spread 

 horizontally, but ultimately become erect. The leaves are 

 variously marked,, and the greater portion of them appear after 

 the flowers, continuing in great beauty the whole winter and 

 early spring, when they are one of the greatest ornaments of 

 our borders and rockeries, if well grown. I have had them 

 as much as six inches long, five inches and a half in diameter, 

 and loo to 150 leaves springing from one tuber. They are 

 admirably adapted for table decoration during winter. The 

 flowers begin to appear at the end of August, continuing until 

 October. Mouth or base of the corolla ten-toothed, pentagonal, 

 purphsh red, frequently with a stripe of lighter colour, or white, 

 down each segment of the corolla. There is a pure white variety, 

 and also a white one with pink base or mouth of corolla, which 

 reproduce themselves tolerably true from seeds. Strong tubers 

 will produce from 200 to 300 flowers each. I have had as 

 many as 150 from one plant blooming at the same time. The 

 varieties from Corfu and other Greek isles are very distinct and 

 valuable additions ; there do not appear to be sufficient permanent 

 characters for specific distinction. They generally flower later, 

 and continue longer in bloom. Their leaves rise with or before 



