894 



THE BOOK OF GARDENING. 



the handsome Ostrich Fern (Onodea germanica) and O. sensibilis; 

 and the common Harts-tongue Fern (Scolopendrium vulgare) and 

 its numerous beautiful; varieties. All of these are of vigorous 

 growth and delight in moist, shady situations. 



Flowering Plants. — The following is an enumeration of 

 waterside subjects having the greatest merit as flowering plants, 



their various coloured blossoms 

 imparting additional life to their 

 surroundings. Amongst the foremost 

 of these are the handsome herba- 

 ceous Spiraeas, S. Aruncus, S. 

 camtschatica, and S. lobata, all being 

 vigorous-growing plants, with large 

 and graceful inflorescences of whitish, 

 or, in the last-named species, deep 

 rose-coloured flowers. Of much less 

 vigorous growth, but equally as 

 beautiful, are 5. astilboides, S. VI- 

 maria, and S. palmata, the former 

 two with panicles of whitish, and 

 the latter bright crimson-coloured 

 flowers. Astilbe rivularis, the habit 

 of which resembles some of the 

 Spiraeas, has large handsome panicles 

 of yellowish-white flowers ; it grows 

 freely close to the water's edge. 

 The Purple Loosestrife, Lythrum 

 Salicaria, and its varieties roseum and 

 superbum, are desirable plants that 

 grow vigorously when their roots are 

 close to the water. A similar situa- 

 tion also suits the free-flowering and 

 vigorous-growing Epilobium hirsutum, 

 E. angustifolium (Fig. 598), and the 

 pretty white E. a. album. The 

 Swamp Milk Weed, Asdepias incar- 

 nata, with its umbels of pretty pink 

 flowers, delights in a situation close 

 to the margin of water; a position 

 that also meets the requirements of 

 the well-known Marsh Marigold, 

 Caltha palustris, and its double- 

 flowered variety, C. p. monstrosa, their rich yellow flowers being 

 very effective. Iris lavigata (I. Kampferi) (Fig. 599) and its many 

 beautiful forms thrive when situated in a sunny position with 

 an abundance of moisture at their roots. /. Monnieri is a very 

 showy plant, of vigorous habit, with large lemon-yellow-coloured 

 flowers, and there are other species and varieties of the genus 



Fig. 599. — Iris laevigata. 



