554 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS lactuca 



orange-red, 8-10 heads in a corymb. 

 Involucre covered v?ith long hairs. 



There are several other species in 

 cultivation — chiefly in botanical collec- 

 tions. Perhaps H. villosum with silvery 

 leaves and large yellow flowers is best. 



ANDRYALA. — A genus with about 

 12 species of woolly or hairy biennials or 

 perennials, having alternate soft entire 

 sinuate-toothed or pinnately divided 

 leaves. Flower heads terminal, long- 

 stalked, in loose panicles or dense 

 corymbs. Achenes smooth, 8-10-ribbed. 

 Involucre bell-shaped. Disc flat, pitted. 

 Pappus with silky hairs. 



Culture and Propagation. — Andryalas 

 grow well in light dry soil, and may be 

 increased by seeds sown in cold frames in 

 autumn, or in gentle heat in spring, after- 

 wards pricking the seedlings out and 

 transplanting in mild weather; or by 

 division of the roots in spring. 



A. lanata. — A S. European perennial 

 about 1 ft. high, vrith thick woolly, oblong 

 ovate, whitish leaves, lower ones stalked, 

 upper sessile. Flowers in May, yellow, 

 like those of the Hawkweed. 



Culture dc. as above. 



A. mogadorensis. — A snowy-white 

 shrub, native of Morocco, ilowers in 

 April, bright yellow, about 2 in. across, 

 with an orange centre. 



Culture <tc. as above. 



LACTUCA (MtJLGEDiuM). — Blue 

 Thistle Lettuce. — A genus containing 

 60 species of usually smooth annuals or 

 perennials often with milky juice. Leaves 

 radical or alternate, entire or coarsely 

 toothed or pinnately cut. Flower-heads 

 various, panicled. Involucre cylindrical, 

 usually smooth. Disc flat, naked. 

 Achenes flattened, with a long slender 

 beak. Pappus with long silky hairs. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 species described below thrive in ordinary 

 garden soil in somewhat shaded places, 

 and may be increased by dividing the 

 roots early in autumn or spring. They 

 are effective looking in the wild garden 

 or on grass-land when grown in bold 

 masses. Seeds are freely produced by 

 most species, and there is no difficulty in 

 raising plants from them. Thoy may be 

 sown when ripe in cold frames or in the 

 open border in warm sheltered spots, and 

 the seedlings may be pricked out, and in 

 spring transplanted to the flowering 

 positions. 



L. alpina (Mulgediuin alpinum). — A 

 pretty perennial about 3 ft. high, native 

 of the mountains of Northern and Centra] 

 Europe, and N. Scotland. Leaves some- 

 what lyrate, toothed, 4-8 in. broad, the 

 terminal lobe large and triangular. 

 Flowers in August, 1 in. across, pale blue, 

 in corymbose clusters. 



Culture dc. as above. 



L. raacrophylla. — A noble Caucasian 

 species with stout fleshy stems about 4 ft. 

 high, and large heart-shaped leaves. 

 Flowers in July, large, pinkish-purple, 

 corymbose. 



Culture £c. as above. 



L. macrorhiza (Mulgediwm macro- 

 rhizum). — ^A Himalayan perennial 1-3 ft. 

 high, with large Dandelion-like leaves. 

 Flowers in autumn, about 1 in. across, 

 bright violet -purple, in loose corymbs. 



Culture dc. as above. 



L. Plumieri {Mulgediuin Plumieri). — 

 An ornamental perennial 6-8 ft. high, 

 native of the Pyrenees. Leaves hand- 

 some, large, broad, Dandelion-like, glau- 

 cous beneath. Flowers in summer, pm'- 

 ple, in large spreading corymbs. 



Culture d-c. as above. 



L. tuberosa. — A neat and handsome 

 perennial 1-1^ ft. high, native of Tauria. 

 Leaves about 1 ft. long and 9 in. wide, 

 like those of the Dandelion in shape. 

 Flowers in autumn, over 1 in. across, 

 pale blue, in loose panicles. 



Culture dc. as above. 



TRAGOPOGON (Go.ii's Beard).— A 

 genus containing 30-40 species of biennial 

 or perennial herbs, with alternate linear, 

 entire stem-clasping, often grass-hl;e 

 leaves. Flower - heads terminal homo- 

 gamous. Involucre cj'hndrical or nar- 

 rowly bell-shaped. Disc flat, or convex, 

 pitted. Achenes smooth or slightly hairy. 

 Pappus bristly. 



T. glaber [Ceropogon glahrum). — A 

 smooth S. European biennial about 1', ft. 

 high, with half stem-clasping linear 

 elongated leaves. Flowers in July, pur- 

 plish. 



Culture and Propagation. — Easily 

 grown from seeds sown in ordinary soil 

 in autumn or spring, where the plants are 

 to bloom. Not of great value as a garden 

 plant. 



Salsafy is obtained from T. porri- 

 folius. See p. 1145. 



