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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GARDEN PLANTS 



CALTHA 



3-parted, with 3-fid blunt segments ; the 

 upper ones stalkless, 3-5-parted into linear 

 entire lobes. The solitary yellow flowers, 

 somewhat larger than those of B. acris, 

 appear from May to July, and are borne 

 on more or less downy stems. 



Culture dc. the same as for B. aco- 

 niUfolvus. Easily increased by division. 



R. parnassisfolius. — A distinct-looking 

 species from high elevations on the Alps 

 and Pyrenees, 3-6 in. high, with velvety 

 stems of a purplish hue. Leaves entire, 

 wooUy on the edges, rather heart-shaped, 

 ovate or roundish, those higher up the 

 stem being ovate lance-shaped. The 

 snowy-white flowers, sometimes tinged 

 with pink, are borne in June and July on 

 hairy stalks. 



Culture Ac. as for B. al/pestris. 



R. pedatus. — A species about 1 ft. high 

 from E. Europe. Lower leaves stalked 

 3-parted or pedate, with linear entire or 

 bifid lobes ; the upper leaves are staUdess, 

 and more or less Unear or cut. The y eUow 

 flowers appear in May or June. 



Culture dc. as for B, aconitif alius. 



R. repens flora pleno. — This double- 

 flowered yeUow variety is often cultivated, 

 but the single-flowered variety — a native 

 of Britain — is a more or less troublesome 

 weed, and best kept out of the flower 

 garden. 



Culture dc. the same as for the 

 double variety of B. acris. 



R. rutxfolius (Bue-leaved Buttercup). 

 This grows near the limits of perpetual 

 snow on the Alps, and is 3-6 in. high. It 

 has distinct foliage, much cut and deeply 

 divided, and yeUow flowers with 8-10 

 oblong petals, usually borne in early 

 summer. There seems to be a white- 

 flowered variety in cultivation. 



Culture dc. as above for B. alpestris. 



R. Seguieri. — A handsome species 

 from the Alps, with deeply cut dark green 

 leaves, and fine white flowers which are 

 produced in May and June. 



Culture dc. as for B. aconitif alius. 



R. spicatus {Spiked Buttercup). — A 

 beautiful plant 12-18 in. high, which dies 

 down early in summer and re-appears in 

 September and October. Leaves some- 

 what hairy, roundish, and 3-lobed. The 

 large bright yellow flowers appear in 

 spring, 1-3 on a stem, the carpels in the 



centre being elevated in the form of a 

 spike. Native of N. Africa and Sicily. 



Culture amd Propagation. — This 

 species may be divided after the flowers 

 and fohage have withered. Seeds may 

 also be sown as soon as ripe in the open 

 border in special spots, or in pots or pans 

 in cold frames. The seedlings are 

 pricked out when large enough, and after- 

 wards transferred to the open ground 

 when sturdy enough to look after them- 

 selves. In the colder parts of the kingdom 

 a little protection is needed in winter, with 

 a little bracken, or a handlight over the 

 plants. 



CALTHA (Marsh Marigold). — A 

 small genus of herbaceous perennials with 

 stout creeping rootstocks, and radical 

 heart-shaped leaves. Flowers few, ter- 

 minal, white or yellow. Sepals 5 or many 

 more, coloured, deciduous. Petals absent. 

 Carpels many, sessile, becoming many- 

 seeded follicles when ripe. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 various forms of the Marsh Marigold are 

 easily grown on the margins of lakes, 

 rivers, streams &o., or even in the ordinary 

 flower border in a moist spot. They are 

 most effective in large clumps and may 

 be increased by division of the rootstock. 

 Seeds of the single-flowered varieties may 

 also be sown as soon as ripe in pots or 

 pans of loamy soil stood half their depth 

 in water. As the seeds often do not 

 sprout until the following spring, they 

 should not be thrown away in autumn 

 under the impression that they are useless. 



C. alpina. — A distinct and beautiful 

 plant 1-2 ft. high, with a bold vigorous 

 habit, resembling that of our native Marsh 

 Marigold. The leaves are roundish heart- 

 shaped or reniform with crenate edges, 

 while the upper stem leaves are coarsely 

 toothed and nearly always sessOe. The 

 rich orange-yellow flowers are larger than 

 those of C.palustris, but appear about the 

 same period. From a botanical point of 

 view this plant may be only a variety 

 of C. palustria, but it is quite distinct 

 enough for garden purposes. 



Culture dc. as above. 



C. palustris. — This is a well-known 

 native of our marshes, margins of rivers, 

 ditches &o., with stems 1-2 ft. high and 

 large rounded kidney-shaped leaves 

 toothed on the margins. The brilliant 

 golden-yellow flowers are l-'2 in. across 



