25° ALPINE FLOWERS. Part II. 



its apex, and from one to three flowers arranged in the axils of 

 the opposite leaves. The flowers are usually nearly or quite an 

 inch and a half long, and opening at the mouth to a little more 

 than an inch deep. The lower lip is the largest, and is usually 

 stained with a deep purplish rose, except a narrow margin, 

 which is a creamy white. The peculiarly handsome lip reminds 

 one of the flowers of some of our handsome exotic orchids 

 rather than those of a labiate plant. It varies a good deal in 

 colour ; sometimes the hp has not the handsome stain above 

 alluded to, and sometimes the whole flower is of a reddish- 

 purple hue. M. grandiflora of Smith is merely a slight variety 

 differing in colour from the normal form. The plant is entirely 

 distinct from any other in cultivation, and is well worthy of a 

 position by shady wood and pleasure-ground walks. It naturally 

 inhabits woods, and even when one finds it on the lower flanks 

 of some great alp, it is seen nestling among the shrubs and 

 low hazel-trees ; woody spots near a fernery or rockwork would 

 suit it to perfection, and it grows very readily among shrubs, 

 and also in the mixed border. Found in a few localities in 

 Southern England, and widely distributed over Europe and Asia. 

 Readily increased by seed or division, and flowers in May about 

 London. 



MENZIESIA QMBXSU&K.— Yew-leaved M. 



A NATIVE of the northern and arctic parts of Europe, Asia, and 

 America, and in Scotland found on the Sow of AthoU, in Perth- 

 shire. Grows from four to six inches high, with' pinkish- 

 lilac flowers in small umbellate clusters. The leaves are strap- 

 shaped and obtuse, crowded, and very finely notched ; the 

 flower-stems and segments of the calyx hairy. It is not so beau- 

 tiful or brilliant in colour as M. empetriformis, but merits a place 

 in full collections and those in which rare and interesting British 

 plants are esteemed. Flowers rather late in summer and in 

 autumn. 



MENZIESIA 'EMS-^llUTSO-BMX^.—Empetrum-like M, 



A TINY shrub, neat in habit and of exquisite beauty, producing 

 numbers of rosy-purple bells in clusters on a dwarf heath-like 

 bush, seldom more than six inches high, the small closely placed 

 leaves having toothed margins. This plant, very rarely seen 



