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PRACTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS peimula 



the Greek plant A. undulata, but the 

 outer leaves are linear lance-shaped and 

 wavy on the margins, the inner leaves 

 being linear and entire, while the flowers 

 and bracts are white. 

 Culture dc. as above. 



A. plantaginea {A. leucantha ; A. 

 scorzonereefoUa). — A pretty S. European 

 species about 1 ft. high. Leaves grassy, 

 broader than in A. maritima, 3-5-nerved. 

 Flowers bright rose. There is an improved 

 variety called splendens. 



Culture dc. as above. 



PLUMBAGO (Leadwoet).— A genus 

 containing about 10 species of perennial 

 herbs, sometimes woody or rarely annual, 

 some of which are not hardy. Leaves 

 usually alternate, lobed and clasping, or 

 dilated at the base into a clasping stalk. 

 Flowers in spikes at the ends of the 

 branches. Calyx tubular 5-cleft. Corolla 

 salver-shaped, 5-lobed, with a slender tube. 

 Stamens ffee from the coroUa. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 hardy Plumbagos like a warm sandy loam 

 or ordinary light garden soil and sunny 

 positions. They may be increased by 

 division, cuttings, or seed. P. cwpensis, 

 a beautiful blue-flowered South African 



greenhouse clinij)er, may be easily raised 

 from seeds in autumn, and the seedlings 

 will be ready for planting out in Jime ; 

 or cuttings may be rooted in summer and 

 autumn, and wintered in a greenhouse 

 until June. In the southern parts of the 

 kingdom it may prove hardy in warm 

 sheltered positions trained on a south 

 wall. It certainly does very well in the 

 open air dm-ing the summer months, and 

 if protected with a piece of canvas or 

 matting in winter, would probably prove 

 hardy in favourable parts. 



P. Larpentse {Ceratostigma jahimba- 

 ginoides). — A Chinese perennial with 

 wiry stems about 1 ft. high, and obovate 

 acute, finely toothed fringed leaves. 

 Flowers in September, cobalt-blue or 

 violet, in dense trusses, lasting until cut 

 off by frost. 



Culture dc. as above. It is easily 

 increased in spring by dividing the tufts, 

 or by planting portions of the rootstoeks. 



This species, if grown in masses, looks 

 charming in the border or in raised beds. 

 Plants here and there in the rockery are 

 also effective. P. europtea,, with violet- 

 purple flowers, and P. micrantha, a 

 Siberian annual with white flowers, are 

 sometimes met with. 



LXVIII. PRIMULACEiE— Auricula and Primrose Order 



An order containing about 250 species of perennial herbs, rarely annuals or 

 shrubs. Leaves vnthout stipules, sometimes all radical, sometimes cauline, 

 alternate, opposite or whorled, simple, rarely lobed (much cut in Hottonia). 

 Mowers hermaphrodite, usually regular, axillary or solitary, often in umbel- 

 hke or whorled racemes. Calyx free, very rarely attached to the ovary, 

 4-9-cleft, rarely deciduous. Corolla hypogynous, usually gamopetalous, 

 rotate, salver-shaped, or funnel- or bell-shaped, 4-6-lobed. Stamens as many 

 as the corolla lobes, attached to the corolla tube. Ovary free, ovoid or round, 

 1-celled. Style short or long, with a blunt or capitate stigma. 



HOTTONIA (Water Violet ; 

 Feather Foil). — A genus with 2 species 

 of water herbs, having submerged pecti- 

 nately cut leaves. Flowers in racemes 

 or whorls, dimorphic. Calyx 5-parted. 

 Corolla saiver-shaped, with 5 spreading 

 lobes. Stamens 5, attached to the short 

 corolla tube. Ovary superior, ovoid. 



H. palustris. — A pretty British water 

 plant, 1-2 ft. high, with leaves 1-2 in. 

 long, deeply out into linear segments. 



Flowers in May and June, ^ in. across, 

 lilac, with a yellow eye. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species may be grown in the mud on the 

 margins of ponds or streams. It is in- 

 creased by division in spring, or by seeds. 



PRIMULA (Primrose).— This genus 

 now contains about 150 species of peren- 

 nial herbs, with tufts of radical obovate 

 spoon-shaped or roundish leaves, entire 



