ON ROCK PLANTS. 



295 



Linum flavum is a handsome plant, of neat habit, growing 

 from i2in. to i8in. high, and bearing an abundance of showy 

 yellow flowers from June to August. 



Lithospermums are showy rockwork plants. They prefer a 

 light, sandy loam, and are easily increased by either seeds, 

 cuttings, or division. L. Gastoni is a rare plant from the 

 Pyrenees, and now said to be scarce in its native habitat. It 

 varies in height from ojn. to i8in., and is somewhat shrubby in 

 habit. During June and July it produces spikes of bright blue 

 flowers. L. graminifolium is a choice alpine, growing from 6in. 

 to i2in. high, and bearing clusters of rich blue flowers. L. 

 prostratum is a showy evergreen plant of dwarf habit, producing 

 numerous prostrate stems. It is essentially a rock-garden sub- 

 ject, yet does fairly well 

 in the open border. 

 It .has flowers of 

 a deep blue Gentian- 

 like hue, but with red 

 or violet stripes. The 

 best way to propagate 

 it is by cuttings, placed 

 in sandy peat, in a 

 cool frame, in the 

 autumn. 



Lychnis alpina 



(Fig. 175) is a charming 

 plant, growing 6in. high, 

 and yielding clusters of 

 rose-coloured flowers 

 during May and June. 

 L. Lagascm grows only 



3in. high, and bears large bright rose-coloured flowers with 

 white centres. It flowers from June to August. 



Meconopsis cambrica, the pretty Welsh Poppy, is a 

 desirable plant for the rock garden ; it grows ift. in height, and 

 bears bright yellow flowers on long stems from June to August. 

 It is easily grown from seed, and very often establishes itself on 

 old walls. Unlike the Himalayan species, it prefers a dry 

 situation. 



Megasea.— See Saxifraga. 



Mertensia alpina is a lovely alpine, growing from 6in. to 

 9m. high, and bearing clusters of light blue flowers. M. sibirica 

 is a handsome free-flowering plant, growing from i2in. to i8in. 

 high, and producing its purplish-blue flowers from May to July. 

 The variety alba has pendent clusters of white flowers. 



Morisia hypog^ea is a dwarf Sardinian alpine about which 

 much has lately been written. It grows only 3m. high, and for 



Fig. 175. — Lychnis alpina. 



