i86 ALPINE FLOWERS. Part II. 



Native of South Italy, the Mediterranean and Greek isles, and 

 about Capouladoux, near MontpeUier, Leaves rise before the 

 flowers in the spring ; they are generally marked more or less 

 with white on upper surface, and often of a purplish cast 

 beneath ; fleshy ; semi-transparent whilst young. For many 

 years I believed this species to vary in the outline and colouring 

 of the fohage less than any other, but I have now received im- 

 ported tubers from Greece, with much variety in both particulars, 

 some of the leaves quite plain and dark green, others dashed all 

 over with spots of white, others with an irregular circle of white 

 varying much in outline. Among these every intermediate form 

 occurs, up to that figured and described by Sibthorp and Sweet. 

 The latter variety is the one more generally met with, and is 

 reproduced from seed very true and unvarying. This, though 

 one of the most interesting species and perfectly hardy, is seldom 

 met with cultivated successfully in the open borders or rockery ; 

 it is very impatient of wet standing about the tubers, and likes a 

 light soil, in a nook rather shady and well sheltered from winds, its 

 tender fleshy leaves being soon injured. The tubers should also 

 be planted deep, say not less than two inches to two inches and a 

 half beneath the surface. I have grown them for many years in 

 a border and on rocks without any other protection than a few 

 larch-fir boughs lightly placed over them, to break the force of 

 the wind and afford a slight shelter from the scorching sun. Some 

 authorities give C. repandum as a distinct species, but I consider 

 them identical, the only difference being in the shape and mark- 

 ings of the leaves, which are very variable. It is generally culti- 

 vated in England under the name of repandum, but most of the 

 best continental botanists adopt the name of vernum for it, and 

 it is, no doubt, the original C. vernum. of L'Obel. 



General Culture. — Perfect drainage at the roots is indis- 

 pensable for the successful culture of all Cyclamens, growing 

 as they often do in their native habitats amongst stones, rock, 

 and debris of the mountains, mixed with an accumulation of 

 vegetable soil — the tubers being thereby often covered to a 

 considerable depth, and not exposed to the action of the 

 atmosphere, as is too often the case under culture by placing 

 them on the surface of the soil. This practice is in most 

 instances very injurious, drying up and destroying the in- 

 cipient young leaf and flower buds when the tubers are 

 apparently at rest ; for I find in most species that, though 



