ASPEEULA 



WOODRUFF OBDEB 



ASPEEULA 487 



opposite 01- 8 in a whorl, and the whitish- 

 yellow flowers appear about July in 

 roundish heads at the ends of the shoots. 

 Culture and Propagation. — This 

 little-known plant may be grown in the 

 same soil and situation as the hardy 

 Azaleas and Rhododendrons. It likes a 

 moist sandy peat, but will also flourish in 

 ordinary good garden soil, which although 

 moist must also be well drained. The 

 easiest way to mcrease the plant is by 

 layering the ripened branches in autumn 

 and detaching them the following spring 

 or autumn when well rooted. 



HOUSTONIA.— A genus with about 

 20 species of perennial herbs, having broad 

 or narrow opposite leaves, and dimorphic 

 flowers arranged in the axils of the leaves 

 or in forked cymes. Calyx with 4 lobes, 

 sometimes alternating with teeth, erect 

 or recmrved. Corolla funnel- or salver- 

 shaped, 4-lobed. Stamens 4. Ovary 

 2-ceUed. 



Culture and Propagation Most 



Houstonias flower nearly all the year 

 round, and are excellent little plants for 

 the rock garden. They like fine sandy 

 and peaty soil with plenty of moisture, 

 and are increased by division in ?arly 

 autumn, or by seeds in spring sown in 

 cold frames or gentle heat about March, 

 or in the open border about April and 

 May. Chiefly natives of N.W. America. 



H. cserulea {Bluets). — A charming 

 little evergreen perennial 2-4 in. high, 

 native of Virginia. Leaves ovate-lance- 

 shaped, the lower ones spoon-shaped, 

 slightly hairy, and forming low masses on 

 the ground. Flowers from about May 

 onwards, beautiful light blue, sometimes 

 white as in the pretty variety alba. Co- 

 rolla salver-shaped, i in. across. 



CtcUure dc. as above. 



H. longifolia. — A species about 6 m. 

 high, with linear oblong upper leaves, and 

 broadly ovate, entire, or twice or thrice 

 toothed lower ones tapering at the base 

 and ciUated. Flowers in August, pale 

 lilac or lavender. 



Culture dc. as above. 



H. serpyllifolia. — A species about 

 8 in. high, with rather hairy spoon-shaped 

 leaves, like those of Thyme. Flowers 

 during summer, white. 



Culture dc. as above. 



ASPERULA (Woodruff). — A genus 

 of about 50 species of pretty herbaceous 



plants with more or less 4-angled stems, 

 and opposite leaves with one, two, or 

 three leaf-like stipules on each side, 

 making the whole look like a whorl of 

 leaves. Flowers terminal and axillary 

 in fascicles. Calyx-limb wanting. Corolla 

 funnel- or bell-shaped, 4-lobed. Stamens 

 4 inserted on the tube or throat of the 

 coroUa. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Woodruffs are pretty plants for the margins 

 of shrubberies, narrow borders, or parts 

 of the rockery, and thrive in any garden 

 soil. They are readily increased by 

 division of the roots in spring or summer 

 after flowering. Seeds may also be sown 

 as soon as ripe in prepared beds of 

 good soil ; or they may be sown in the 

 open border in spring, and transplanted 

 when large enough to handle easily, or 

 merely thinned out if sown where the 

 plants are to bloom. 



A. cynanchica. — A smooth British 

 perennial 9-12 in. high. Leaves 4 in a 

 whorl, oblong lance- shaped. Flowers in 

 summer, white or blue, elegantly marked 

 with red lines ; sometimes pure white. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. longiflora. — A smooth weak- 

 stemmed Hungarian species about 6 in. 

 high. Leaves 4 in a whorl, linear- 

 obovate. Flowers in summer, whitish, 

 tinged with yellow inside, red outside. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. montana. — A Hungarian species 

 6-8 in. high. Leaves linear, lower ones 

 6 in a whorl, passing to 4 and 2 upwards. 

 Flowers in June and July, pink. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. odorata (Sweet Woodruff). — A 

 charming British plant 6-12 in. high, 

 with square stems, and lanceolate, 

 minutely toothed leaves 8 in a whorl. 

 Flowers in May and June, pure white, 

 numerous. When dried the plant has a 

 dehcious hay-like scent. It imparts an 

 agreeable perfume to clothes and pre- 

 serves them from insects. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. orientalis (A. azurea setosa). — A 

 beautiful Caucasian annual about 1 ft. 

 high, with lance-shaped, bristly leaves, 

 about 8 in a whorl. Flowers profusely 

 in summer, sky-blue in colour, very 

 fragrant. 



Culture dc. as above. 



