234 ALPINE FLOWERS. Part II. 



other Iberises prove to be mere varieties, and very slight 

 ones, of /. sempervirens when grown side by side. 



lONOPSIDION AOAULE.— Fzia/^/ Cress. 



This, being an annual plant, is only introduced here in conse- 

 quence of its peculiar beauty and suitableness for adorning bare 

 spots on rockwork devoted to very minute and delicate alpine 

 plants. As it sows itself, the cultivator will have no more 

 trouble with it than with a hardy perennial. It frequently 

 flowers at one inch high, and rarely exceeds two inches, the 

 small flowers being of a pale violet tinge, and the leaves roundish 

 and compactly arranged. From the neatness of its habit, it has 

 been called the Carpet-plant. It is too minute for borders, 

 though it will grow freely in them, but will be found most at 

 home on the shady side of the rockwork, and in spots where a 

 coarse vegetation will not prevent its growth. It does Very well 

 in pots, and those who are fond of window-gardening may grow 

 it well outside their windows in pans or small pots. It will 

 flower a couple of months after being sown ; and when sown in 

 spring in the open ground, the self-sown seeds of the summer 

 flowers soon start into growth, and the second crop flowers 

 in autumn, and far into winter. A native of Portugal and 

 Morocco. 



IRIS C-B.\WSh.11K.— Crested I. 



A VERY diminutive and charming species, usually running 

 about with its creeping and rooting stems exposed on the 

 surface, not rising above the ground more than a few inches, 

 having flowers, however, as large as many of the tall and coarser 

 species. Notwithstanding this, it has never become popular, 

 and was indeed, till recently, scarcely to be found. It flowers 

 in May ; blue, with spots of a deeper hue on the outer petals, 

 and a stripe of orange and yellow variegation down the centre 

 of each. The plant is readily distinguished, at any season, from 

 any other dwarf species by the creeping stems (rhizomes) grow- 

 ing well above the ground. This feature, indeed, is so marked 

 as to suggest the desirability of frequently replanting it, and 

 even young tufts push so boldly out of the ground that a top- 

 dressing of an inch of fine soil placed around them cannot fail 

 to help the roots to descend more freely. It loves, and flourishes 



