PLATYCODON 



HAREBELL OBDER 



CODONOPSIS 559 



usually hairy above, entire or orenate- 

 toothed, white and thickened on the 

 margins. Flowers in June, pale lilac, 

 solitary, on long scapes. 

 Culture dc. as above. 



W. serpyllifolia {Campa/nula serpylli- 

 folia). — A dwarf Dalmatian rock plant 

 with small Thyme-like leaves and masses 

 of purple-blue flowers in early summer. 

 There is a variety called dinarica. 



Culture dc. as above. 



W. tenuifolia ( W. dalmatica ; Edrai- 

 anthus tenuifolius). — A pretty Dalmatian 

 rock plant 3-6 in. high, with tufted, 

 purphsh, hairy stems, and linear entire 

 bristly leaves. Flowers in June and July, 

 violet-blue, white at the base, 6-10 in a 

 dense terminal head. 



Culture dc. as above. Although 

 quoted as a synonym, W. dalmiatica 

 seems to be a distinct form with rather 

 broader linear leaves and deep purple 

 flowers. 



PLATYCODON fCniNESB Bell 

 Flowee). — This genus consists of P. 

 grandiflorum and its varieties, and is 

 chiefly distinguished from Campanula in 

 which it was formerly included by having 

 each part of the flower — calyx, corolla, 

 stamens, ovary, stigma, and capsule — in 

 5 separate or united parts. 



P. grandiflorum (P. autummale ; P. 

 chinense). — A beautiful Chinese and 

 Japanese perennial 6-24 in. high, with 

 ovate lance-shaped, toothed leaves, often 

 opposite, or in whorls. Flowers in Jiily 

 and August, 2-3 in. across, purple, broadly 

 bell-shaped, solitary or few at the tips of 

 the branches. The variety albidum has 

 white flowers ; glaucum has glaucous 

 leaves ; and Mariesi (or pumilum) is a 

 splendid variety, dwarfer in habit than 

 the type, with larger flowers varying from 

 pale to dark bluish-purple. 



Culture and Propagation. — Platy- 

 codons thrive under conditions similar to 

 most of the Wahlenbergias, and like the 

 latter are best raised from seed, as the 

 roots do not bear dividing very well. 

 The seedlings may be sown in cold frames 

 in rich sandy soil and leaf-mould when 

 ripe, or in spring. \A'hen the seedlings are 

 large enough to handle easily they should 

 be pricked out into pots or pans containing 

 similar soil, or even in the frames, where 

 they may be allowed to develop until the 

 following spring. They may then be planted 



out in mild showery weather about 1 ft. 

 apart. Cuttings of the young shoots about 

 3 in. long may be put in a close frame in 

 sandy soil in spring, and a fair percentage 

 will root. Cuttings of the roots about 2 in. 

 long will also root in gentle heat in spring, 

 and at the same period any large tufts 

 may be very carefully divided. The best 

 soil for Platycodons is a good sandy loam 

 neither too light nor too heavy, to which 

 has been added some well-decayed leaf- 

 mould. Where the plants are allowed to 

 grow for several years without disturbance 

 it is wise, if not actually essential, to 

 give them a good mulching or top dressing 

 with manure every winter bo as to re- 

 plenish the food in the soil. 



OSTROWSKYA.— A genus at pre- 

 sent having only the following species : — 



O. magnifica. — A noble -looking hardy 

 perennial 4-5 ft. high, native of the higher 

 mountains of Eastern Bokhara. It has 

 large tuberous roots about 2 ft. long when 

 fully grown, and the stems are furnished 

 with circles of large lance-shaped acute 

 toothed leaves. The beautiful bell-shaped 

 flowers 3^-4 in. across appear in July and 

 are white stained and veined with lilac- 

 purple. The corolla is 5-9-lobed, and the 

 stamens are arranged in the centre round 

 a bright yellow columnar disc. The seed 

 capsules which appear after the flowers 

 are somewhat remarkable. They are top- 

 shaped with 6 -8 stiflish projections or 

 dried calyx teeth, 1-1^ in. long, radiating 

 from the circumference, and down the 

 sides of the capsule are deep furrows 

 between the calyx teeth. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 remarkably handsome plant has been 

 appropriately called the ' Giant Bell- ^ 

 flower ' on account of its stature and the 

 great size of its flowers. It is quite 

 hardy and flourishes in good and well- 

 drained garden soil, preferring, however, 

 rich sandy loam deep enough to allow its 

 long roots to strike well downwards. 

 Seeds ripen freely in ordinary good 

 seasons, and should be sown in cold 

 frames when ripe, to increase the stock. 

 The seedlings, however, do not flower 

 until about the third or fourth season. 

 The roots being so long and brittle and 

 easily injured, it is scarcely possible to 

 increase the plants by dividing them. 



CODONOPSIS. — This genus con- 

 tains about 12 species of annuals or 

 perennials with a tuberous rootstock, 



