260 



PBAGTIGAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS aeenakia 



3-nerved, ftinged with hairs, lower ones 

 crowded. Flowers in summer, white, 

 usually solitary, on long downy stalks. 

 The variety hiflora has two flowers on a 

 stem, and triflora three. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



A. laricifolia. — h. Swiss species about 

 6 in. high, with awl-shaped leaves tooth- 

 letted and ciliated on the edges. Flowers 

 in summer, white, 1, 3, or 6, borne on 

 rather rough upright stems. 



Oultv/re cmd Propagation, — This 

 species is suitable for rookeries or border 

 edgings, and flourishes in hght sandy soil 

 in sunny situations. It is easily increased 

 by division of the tufts in early autumn or 

 spring, or may be raised from seeds in 

 the same way as A. halea/rica. 



A. longifolia. — A Siberian species 6-9 

 in. high, with awl-shaped, thread-like, 

 serrulated leaves. Flowers in summer, 

 white, crowded on three-forked smooth 

 panicles. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



A. montana. — A handsome species 

 about 3 in. high, native of France and 

 Spain. Leaves lance-shaped linear, 

 borne on very long stems, procumbent. 

 Flowers in summer, white, large, over an 

 inch across, solitary, on long stalks. 



Culture dc. as above. As an orna- 

 mental plant for hanging over the faces of 

 rock in half-shaded places in the rockery, 

 A. montana is superior to any other 

 species of Arenaria. Its loose and elegant 

 and numerous white flowers make it a 

 charming picture in suitable positions. It 

 is easily increased by cuttings made in 

 April and May, and inserted in sandy soil 

 in shaded spots. Seeds are also fireely 

 produced and may be sown when ripe or 

 in spring. 



A. peploides (Honkenya peploides). — 

 Sea Purslane. — A native of British sea- 

 shores, 3-4 in. high, with rather fleshy, 

 ovate-acute, recurved leaves. Flowers 

 from May to August, ^ in. across, white. 

 Petals of the staminate flowers as long as 

 sepals ; of the pistillate flowers shorter. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



A. purpurascens. — A closely tufted 

 evergreen species, about 6 in. high, found 

 abundantly on the higher Pyrenees. 

 Leaves smooth, ovate lance - shaped, 

 pointed, stalkless. Flowers in early 

 summer, purplish, numerous, borne on 

 downy stalks. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



A. rotundifolia. — A Siberian species 

 4-6 in. high. Leaves about ^ in. across, 

 roundish, ciliated, on tufted branches. 

 Flowers in summer, white, solitary, with 

 roundish ovate petals. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



A. tetraquetra. — A distinct looking 

 tufted species about 6 inches high, native 

 of the French Mediterranean shores. 

 Leaves ovate, edged with a white carti- 

 lage, and fringed at the base. Flowers 

 in summer, white, in heads, with narrow 

 leaves between. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. verna. — A native of dry rocks, 

 pastures, banks &c. in the British Islands, 

 and also found in Central Eiufope, N. 

 Africa, and N. America. It is 1-3 in. 

 high, with densely tufted 3-nerved awl- 

 shaped leaves. Flowers in early summer, 

 i in. across, white, with greenish centres, 

 freely produced. The variety ccespitosa 

 has very leafy stems, smooth calyx and 

 flower stalks. In the variety Oerard/i 

 the leaves do not end in a small point. 



Culture dc. as above. 



S A G I N A (Peaelwebd ; Peael- 

 woet). — A genus of about 8 small tufted 

 annual or perennial herbs, with awl- 

 shaped leaves, and small, usually long- 

 stalked flowers. Sepals 4-5. Petals 

 4-5, entire, or slightly notched, some- 

 times minute or absent. Stamens equal 

 in number to the sepals, or twice as 

 many, or fewer by abortion. Styles 

 equal in number to the sepals and 

 alternate with them. 



Culture amd Propagation. — The 

 Pearlworts being mostly weeds, the 

 species mentioned below is the only one 

 worthy of notice as a garden plant. It 

 may be raised from seed sown in May, 

 and increased in the autumn by dividing 

 the patches. For making a green carpet 

 or edging to a border it is very useful, 

 and great hopes were at one time 

 entertained of its value for making 

 lawns, but with the greatest care it 

 becomes too patchy for this purpose. 



S. pilifera {Spergula pilifera). — A 

 tufted moss-like plant, about 2 in. high, 

 native of Corsica. Leaves linear, awl- 

 shaped, smooth. Flowers in summer, 

 small, white ; petals twice as large as 

 the oblong blunt sepals. The variety 

 aurea has golden-yellow foliage, and is 

 more or less used for carpet bedding. 



Culture dc. as above. 



