242 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



racemes of purplish flowers ; it is an effective plant in the 

 flower border, and when grown in large vases, its peculiar 

 drooping habit shows off to advantage. A creamy-white variety 



is also in cul- 

 tivation, and 

 although not so 

 ornamental as 

 the type, it 

 forms a nice 

 contrast. They 

 usually flower 

 about August. 

 A. hypochondri- 

 acus (Prince's 

 Feather), 3ft. to 

 4ft. high,, has 

 purple foliage, 

 and large dark 

 crimson erect 

 flower-spikes. It 

 flowers in Julyj 

 and forms a 

 very ornamental 

 border-plant, as well as being useful for pot- 

 culture. Amaranthus melancholicus ruber, ift. 

 high, has blood-red foliage and crimson 

 flowers ; it is a compact grower, and largely 

 used for bedding. A. tricolor (Joseph's Coat), 

 i^ft. high, is a beautiful ornamental-foliaged 

 plant, the leaves being of a glowing crimson 

 colour from the base to the middle, -the 

 upper portion being marked yellow and 

 bronzy-green; this species and its varieties 

 require a light soil and a rather warm situ- 

 ation to be well grown. 



Anagallis (Pimpernel) is a genus con- 

 taining several dwarf plants, suitable for 

 edgings and 'rockwork in sunny situations. 

 A. indica, ift. high, is a trailing plant, 

 producing numerous small deep blue flowers 

 in July. A. grandiflora, 6in. high, has 

 various coloured flowers — blue, deep red, &c. 

 — and is seen at its best from May onwards 

 until the end of summer ; it is very compact 

 and neat in habit. A. linifolia, oin. to 12m. 

 high, has large brilliant blue flowers, ^in. across ; flowers in July. 

 There are .numerous varieties, including Breweri, 6in. high, 

 with rich scarlet flowers ; sanguinea, 6in. high, with beautiful 



P*ig. 130. — Amar- 

 anthus caudatus. 



