II'KLU)TH(J1'1L'M 



IIELIPTERUM 



r.'ij 



1032. Heliotropium Peruvianu 



{[I. grandiflorum^ Don), lias longer and relatively nar- 

 rower Ivs., which are tlistinclly narrowed to the basie, 

 tlower-clusters larfjer and more open, tls. nearly twice 

 larger and the corolla tube nearly twice longer than the 

 calyx ; calyx teeth longer and narrower. Pc-rn. Ij.M. 

 1GU9. Narcissuy-scented. Many of the large-trussed ami 

 large-flowered garden varieties are apparently of this 

 species rather than of the former; or possibly the two 

 are hybridized. Originally both species were violet- 

 flowered, but the colors are now in various shades of 



purple, and there are 

 ^■(7'^^Sii^r''Ii^^>?J^'j IV white-Howerod forms. 



W^mrW0mx H.Voltaireanum.Hort. , 

 wV^ occurs m our trade- 

 ■^"^ -^'^ lists. It is a compact 

 garden form, said to be 

 a hybrid. I'.iM. ]fJ, p. 

 100. Another species, 

 H. Europaeum, Linn., is 

 rarely seen in old col- 

 lections, p^irticulai'ly 

 South, and it is spar- 

 ingly naturalized. It is 

 a hoary-downy herb 

 G-]8 in. high, with long- 

 petioled oval Ivs., and 

 white fls. in scirpioid 

 racemes. ^ H. B. 



The Heliotrope is a 

 warmth- and sun-lov- 

 ing plant, preferring a 

 rich, light soil, good 

 drainage and plenty of 

 water. It needs to lie kept growing, and suffers more 

 than manj^ other plants from becoming dry. It wilts 

 easily, and should never be allowed to lack for moisture 

 in soil and air. Quickly becoming pot-bound, it requires 

 frequent shifting. 



The Heliotrope strikes readily from terminal cuttings 

 of the tender shoots in al>out eight or ten days. Florists 

 root the cuttings in pure sand. Cuttings should have 

 a temperature at night of about 50'^, with 5'^-10° of 

 bottom heat. They should be kept from flagging by 

 careful watering and shading as needed. When the 

 cuttings have formed roots about hiilf an inch long, they 

 should be transplanted to small pots or shallow i>oxes 

 of light soil, placed where they will have a nii^ht tem- 

 perature of about GO*^, sheltered from, currents of air, 

 watered and shaded as needed until established. 



The Heliotrojie may also be grown readily from seed. 

 These should be sown in shallow tiafs in light soil, in a 

 temperature of about 05°, covered lightly and kept nicely 

 moist. When well up they may be treated as cuttings. 



For forcing, the Heliotrope should have a good ex- 

 posure to the sun, a temperature of about GC^ at night., 

 rifh soil, good drainage and careful watering. The 

 plant is preferably grown in benches in inches of 

 soil. A plant easily covers an IS-inch square. 



In the open ground plants should have a sunny situa- 

 tion and moist soil. Here it covers a space 2^-^ ft. square, 

 anit attains a height of 2-,'-! ft. They should not be set 

 out till danger of spring frosts is past. 



The plant is comparatively free from diseases and in- 

 sect pests. Cuttings and seedlings are sometimes de- 

 stroyed by the damping-off fungi, and under condi- 

 tions of neglect, plants sometimes become infested with 

 mealy-hugs, aphides, or the red-spider. Sometimes 

 plants are ruined by a disease known among florists as 

 the "black rust," an ailment similar to or identical with 

 that affecting the Verbena. It usually appears on plants 

 in an enfeebled condition, resulting from being pot- 

 bounii,from sour soil or over-potting, followed by too 

 low temperature, as well as from other causes. Badly 

 diseased plants should be destroyed. Others are some- 

 times benefited by syriiigings and waterings with fie^^h 

 and tolerably strong tobacco tea, in place of the nsu d 

 waterings. Repotting and occasional applications of 

 weak manure water, with perhaps a higher tem[>era- 

 tiire, will also be found helpful. Erxest Walkek. 



Apart from its use as a border plant and for bedding, 

 being a universal favorite, it usually forms p>art of the 

 stock in trade of florists who do a local business, rank- 



ing next to the (b:runium as a pot-plant for spring 

 trade. For cut-flowers in winter it is equally popular, 

 but its lasting qualities when cut are uucertaiu. Suc- 

 cessful growers assert that for best results, strong 

 stems and good keeping qualities, it should l)e grown in 

 a moderately cool, airy house. Some of the best the 

 writer has seen were grown in a house suited to violets 

 ;ind mignonette, in which the temperature seldom rose 

 tooO^F. at night. 



Stout, soft cuttin;;s make the best ]dants, and root, 

 easily in a temperature of GO'^F. From the time they are 

 inserted, suflicient water must be given to prevent wilt- 

 ing. A propagating bed is not required. Ordinary flats 

 will do — the medium half-leaf soil aud sand. They 

 must be well shaded for a week or so. They are very 

 liable to the cutting bench fungus, and should be potted 

 or boxed off as soon as rooted, which should he in ten 

 or twelve days. Any light soil will do, aud it need not 

 be rich for the first shift. 



For winter flowers, cuttings may be taken in July and 

 treated as above. Some of the plants among the spring- 

 batch with straight stems may be grown along for 

 standards by taking out the side shoots until 2 ft. high. 

 These make handsome drooping specimens. By prun- 

 ing about midsummer they ntay be kept in good condi- 

 tion for years. Stock intpnded for spring cuttings is 

 better grown continuously in pots, as the plants lift 

 badly in the autuum. 



The plants do not lift well. The writer prefers to 

 grow a few left-over bedding plants for stock. Cuttings 

 struck in June or July and grown continuously indoors 

 make the best plants for winter flowers. Tall young 

 plants may be grown into standards by taking out the 

 side shoots until they reach 2 or 3 feet in height, and 

 then letting them branch out. Shifted along, they make 

 large specimens in 12-inch pots, and may be kept in 

 good condition for years by judicious pruning, top- 

 dressing and the use of numure water. 



Heliotrope is extensively used as a bedding plant, is 

 a favorite in window-gardens, and is much grown by 

 Mocists for cut-flowers. The ease with which it may be 

 grown either in pots or the garden, the color and 

 fragrance of its dainty flowers, and the continuity of 

 bloom, have all con- 

 tributed to make it a 

 general favorite. 



There have been 

 numerous garden va- 

 rieties and a number 

 of hybrids — white 

 ;ind the different tints 

 of blue predominat- 

 ing. Floral catalogues 

 rarelj^ mention, how- 

 ever, more than G-8 

 varieties. Madame 

 de Blonay has for 

 years been a favorite 

 white, while Queen 

 of Violets is perhaps 

 the finest of the 

 blues. Chieftain is a 

 lighter tint. Albert 

 Uelaux is a variety 

 with golden varie- 

 gated foliage, but 

 variegated Helio- 

 tropes are undesir- 

 able. Among seed- 

 lings double forms 

 occasionally appear. 

 They have no special 

 merit, and are seldom 

 perpetuated. 



T. D. Hatfieli.. 



HFT fPTFRUM 1033- Helipterum Mang-lesii ■ ■ ' . ' . 

 (Greek for siiii und Generally known as Khndunthe. 



i('i)if/; said to refer 



to the light-plumed pappus). C"iiip(''si((c, Including 

 AcroclUtinm and L'lfnhhithe . About 50 species in Au- 

 stralia and S. Africa, of which a few are cult, as ever- 

 lastings or innnortelles (see EvevJastings). The cult. 



