ON ROCK PLANTS. 



301 



Silene is an extensive genus of annual, biennial, and perennial 

 plants, some of which are natives of Britain. The perennials 

 are propagated either by seeds, cuttings, or by division ; they 

 may be grown in the rockery or in the mixed border. 5. acaulis, 

 the Cushion Pink, forms moss-like tufts of foliage, 2in. high, 

 and covered with numerous pink flowers from June to August. 

 S. alpestris is a neat little alpine growing from 3m. to 6in. 

 high, and producing, during May and June, a sheet of glistening 

 white flowers. S. maritima flore-pleno is a fine rock plant, 

 growing 6in. high, and forming prostrate tufts of glaucous 

 foliage. It has double white flowers, as large as those of the 

 garden Pinks, and produced in abundance from May to August. 

 S. Schafta forms a compact bushy tuft, 6in. high, and bears 

 numerous rose-coloured flowers during July and August. 



Soldanellas are pretty alpines, thriving best in a peaty soil 

 in sheltered corners of the rockery. They may be increased by 

 seeds or by division. .S. alpina, the Blue Moonwort, grows 6in. 

 high, and bears beautifully-fringed pendent bell-shaped flowers 

 during April; they are of a deep purple or violet colour, and 

 borne three or four together on each scape ; the leaves are 

 small, and round or 

 kidney-shaped. 5. mini- 

 ma has large fringed 

 blue flowers, borne 

 singly on scapes 2in. 

 or 3in. high during 

 April and May. S. 

 montana grows 3m. 

 high, and produces its 

 purple flowers, two to 

 four on each scape, 

 during April. 



Statice is a genus 

 of ornamental plants, 

 many of which are 

 suitable either for the 

 rockery or for the 

 mixed border ; they 

 produce large heads of 

 flowers which are very 

 lasting both on the 

 plant and when cut. S. 

 spathulata bears heads, 

 of purple flowers during 

 August, on stems ift. high. 5. tatarica produces numerous pink 

 flowers on a long, broad panicle ift. high, during July and 

 August; the leaves are radical, and from 4m. to 6in. long. 



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FlG. l8l. — TlARELLA CORDIFOLIA. 



