Part II. ERIGERON—ERINUS. 209 



Heath, E. hibernica alba (mediierranea alba), and Mackie's 

 Heath, E. Mackieana, are well suited for the rougher parts of 

 the rock-garden. 



ERIGERON -RXmSEi..—Royle's E. 



A VERY rigid plant, two to four inches high when in bloom, the 

 centre of the flower almost black when young, but changing to a 

 mixture of gold and black when fully open, as if gold dust were 

 sprinlded over black velvet. The flower is two inches across, 

 sometimes more, and the rays of a dark lavender-blue are barely 

 one-third the width of those of Aster alpinus, to which the plant 

 bears at first sight some resemblance. It is, however, easily 

 distinguished from the alpine Aster by the narrow, sharply 

 pointed, and violet-brown scales of its flower-head, whereas those 

 of A. alpihus are blunt, green, and recurved. A native of the 

 Himalayas. It is sometimes known as Erigeron speciosus, but 

 is quite distinct from Stenactis {Erigeron) speciosa, a handsome 

 plant with yellow flowers and long, pale-purple rays, very de- 

 sirable as a border-plant, often attaining a height of nearly two 

 feet, and therefore too tall for intimate association with the 

 gems of the rock-garden. 



EEINUS KlSBTmj^.— Wall E. 



A NEAT and distinct little plant, with violet-purple flowers in 

 short pubescent racemes, abundantly produced over very dwarf 

 tufts of downy, oblong, and toothed leaves, obtuse at the apex. 

 A native of the Alps of Switzerland, the Tyrol, and the Pyre- 

 nees, perishing in winter on the level ground in most gardens, 

 but quite permanent and producing- masses of flowers when 

 allowed to run wild on old walls or ruins. I have seen brick 

 garden walls with every chink between the bricks filled with 

 this plant, so as to look at a distance as if covered with moss 

 in winter, and in summer becoming covered with masses of 

 lovely colour. It is easily established on old ruins or walls by 

 sowing the seeds in mossy or earthy chinks, and is of course 

 well suited for rockwork, growing thereon in any position, often 

 flowering bravely on earthless mossy rocks and stones. E. 

 hirsutus is a variety covered with long and whitish pubescence. 

 A pure white variety was raised by Mr. Atkins, of Painswick, 

 and it is a very desirable addition. 



p 



