ABBNABIA 



CARNATION OBDEB 



ABBNABIA 269 



large, conspicuous, 7-15 on an erect 

 BtaUs. 



Culture Ac. as above. 



C. latifolium. — A deciduous European 

 species 3-6 in. high, with ovate slightly 

 stalked leaves, pale green or slightly 

 glaucous. Flowers in summer, large, white, 

 solitary, or on sparingly forked stalks. 



Culture dc. as above. 



C. purpurascens. — ^A remarkable 

 species, native of the alpine regions of the 

 Caucasus. It has a bulbous rootstook 

 from which spring stems 2^-3J in. long, 

 furnished with oblong linear-lanoe-shaped 

 leaves. The rather large flowers appear 

 in summer and are of a beautiful blue, 

 which contrasts well with the purple 



Culture and Propagation. — This is a 

 very effective plant in the rock garden 

 when in blossom. It wiU grow in well- 

 drained soil in sunny situations, but can 

 be increased only by means of seeds sown 

 in the way advised above. As neither 

 runners nor side shoots are produced 

 from the central stock it camiot be in- 

 creased by division. 



C. toraentosura. — ^A beautiful and well- 

 known evergreen species, 6 in. high, 

 native of S. and E. Europe. Leaves 

 silvery and oblong, spoon-shaped, upper 

 ones lance-shaped. Flowers in early sum- 

 mer, white, in forked cymes on erect 

 stalks. This species is extensively used 

 as an edging for beds, borders, banks &c. 



Culture dc. as above. 



ARENARIA (Sandwort). — A genus 

 of more than 130 species of annual or 

 perennial herbs, sometimes slender or 

 stiffish with small awl-shaped leaves, 

 sometimes spreading or tufted with 

 broader leaves. Flowers terminal, 

 cymose-panioulate, or capitate, rarely 

 -axillary or almost solitary. Sepals 5, 

 rarely 4. Petals equal in number, whitsi, 

 •or very rarely red, entire or slightly 

 notched, or rarely absent. Stamens 10, 

 rarely 8 or fewer by abortion. Styles 3, 

 seldom 2, or 4-5 in some flowers. 



The plants known as Alsine are now 

 referred to this genus. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Arenarias are pretty little plants, chiefly 

 suitable for the rock garden in more or 

 less exposed situations, in ordinary soU. 

 The perennial species, which only are 

 worth growing, may be increased by 

 division in early spring or autumn ; by 



seeds sown in spring in a cold frame ; or 

 by cuttings put under a bell- glass during 

 the spring and summer months, keeping 

 them shaded until fairly well rooted. The 

 following are some of the best Sandworts. 



A. balearica. — A pretty perennial 

 Sandwort, native of Corsica, with very 

 small ovate, shining, rather fleshy, ciliated 

 leaves. Flowers in early summer, white, 

 numerous, borne on purple or violet 

 stalks 1-3 in. high. 



Culture and Propagation. — This is an 

 excellent plant for covering the faces of 

 rooks or stones, as the tiny foliage almost 

 adheres to the surface, making it a mass 

 of deep shining green with scarcely an 

 interstice. It likes open, airy, and par- 

 tially shaded situations with plenty of 

 moisture. If exposed to hot sunshine and 

 drought it soon becomes parched and 

 withered. 



Seeds are freely produced, and though 

 minute may be saved with comparative 

 ease if picked before the pods are ripe 

 enough to burst. The seeds maybe sown as 

 soon as ripe in pots or pans of fine sandy 

 soil, and require scarcely any covering. 

 They must be kept shaded and moist, and 

 when the tiny seedlings are well above 

 ground, they may be pricked out into 

 similar pots and pans, and wintered in 

 cold frames until spring. 



An easier method of increase however 

 is by dividing the plants at any time dur- 

 ing the summer months. The divided 

 portions should be placed on fine soil, 

 and have a little soil sprinkled here and 

 there over the patches to hold the plants 

 down. If kept shaded and moist they 

 will soon root, and may be placed in the 

 rockery. 



A. ciliata. — A procumbent, tufted 

 evergreen species, 2-8 in. high, native of 

 Ireland, the Orkney and Shetland Isles, 

 Europe &c. Leaves small, ovate, downy, 

 fringed with hairs near the base. 

 Flowers in summer, about J in. across, 

 white, with spoon-shaped petals. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. graminifolia. — A tufted evergreen 

 grassy Caucasian plant 6-10 in. high. 

 Leaves long, awl-shaped, rough-edged. 

 Flowers in summer, white, on erect 

 stalks ; petals obovate, 5-6 times longer 

 than the blunt sepals. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. grandiflora. — A native of France. 

 3-6 inches high. Leaves awl-shaped, 



s2 



