Part II. DRACOCEPHALUM. 205 



third section, which includes plants of a purple and violet 

 tint of colour, is chiefly, if not altogether, confined to the re- 

 presentatives of the genus that grow abundantly in the high 

 mountain lands of South America. Of these we have but one in 

 cultivation, Draba violacea, and of so recent introduction that it 

 may be considered rash to pass any opinion on it beyond the 

 fact that it is a remarkably beautiful plant, of doubtful hardiness. 

 We may here observe that the sections 1 have adopted must be 

 considered as more strictly chromatic than botanical. 



DEACOCEPHALTJM AtrSTRIACTJM.— .^KJi'rza^ D. 



A SHOWY species, with blue flowers more than an inch and a 

 half long, in whorled spikes, the plant of rather a woody texture, 

 spreading into masses about a foot high, the floral leaves velvety, 

 trifid, and with long fine spines, the leaves three- or five-cleft, 

 with narrow segments. A native of nearly all the great moun- 

 tain chains of Europe, flourishing on rockwork in light soil, 

 and increased by seed or division. Quite free to grow in most 

 ordinary garden soils, but, like many other mountain plants, 

 only attaining perfect ripeness of texture on rockwork, unless in 

 very weU-drained, warm, and sandy soils. 



DRACOCEPHALUM GRANDIFLORUM:.— ^^/<5«y-/^fflw^ D. 



A PLANT rarely seen in our gardens, distinct in appearance from 

 its relatives, not diffuse or procumbent, but in habit more like a 

 dwarf Betony ; the flowers, however, are handsome, blue, in 

 whorled oblong spikes two to three inches long ; the leaves 

 oblong, obtuse, heart-shaped at the base, and crenated ; the whole 

 plant little more than half a foot high, though it varies from two 

 inches to a foot high. A native of Siberia, frequent in the 

 Altaic Alps, and thriving best on somewhat elevated sandy 

 borders, or low spots on rockwork in good sandy and thoroughly 

 drained loam. It should be guarded as far as possible agaiiist 

 slugs, which are fond of it, and may quickly destroy young and 

 small plants. Flowers in early summer, and is increased by 

 division. 



DRACOCEPHALUM RUYSCHIANUM.— i?zyjf/%V D. 



Has flowers smaller than those of D. austriacum, produced 

 in rather close spikes at the summit of the stem ; the leaves 



