EHAZYA 



PERIWINKLE OBDEB 



viNCA 645 



•shrubberies in ordinary garden or peaty 

 soil. They are usually increased by 

 dividing the rootstooks in early autumn 

 or spring. They may also be increased 

 by cuttings of the shoots inserted in 

 sandy soil under a handlight during the 

 summer months. Seeds may also be sown 

 in cold frames in autumn or spring, so that 

 the seedlings may be ready for planting 

 out in light fresh soil either in autumn or 

 spring, according to the date of sowing. 



A. salicifolia. — A pretty N. American 

 perennial li-2 ft. high, with smooth 

 lance-shaped acute WUlow-like leaves. 

 Flowers from May to July, pale blue, 

 funnel-shaped, petals hairy on the inside. 

 This is closely related to the following 

 species, and is even regarded as a variety 

 of it by some. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



A. Tabernxmontana {A. latifolia; 

 TaberncBmontana Amsonia). — A native 

 of Carolina l|--3 ft. high, with ovate 

 lance-shaped acute shortly stalked leaves. 

 Flowers in early summer, pale blue, with 

 lance-shaped acute petals slightly hairy 

 on the outside. 



Culture rfc. as above. 



RHAZYA. — A genus having only a 

 couple of species pf smooth erect-growing 

 -bushes, with alternate thickish leaves and 

 flowers in loose cymes or clusters at the 

 ends of the shoots. Calyx with 5 taper- 

 ing segments. Corolla salver-shaped, 

 with a cylindrical tube, and 5 lobes twisted 

 in bud. Stamens enclosed and seated 

 above the middle of the tube. Ovary 

 with 2 distinct carpels, becoming erect, 

 and narrow cylindrical follicles when 

 ripe. 



R. orientalis. — An attractive little 

 bush 1^-2 ft. high, native of Greece and 

 S. Western Asia. The erect simple 

 stems have lance-shaped acute leaves, 

 2-3 in. long, usually alternate, but 

 occasionally opposite near the base. The 

 .starry soft blue flowers, with pointed 

 . segments, appear in June in loose clusters 

 at the ends of the shoots. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 plant makes a compact bush, and 

 flourishes in ordinary well-drained garden 

 soil. It looks ornamental in the rock 

 garden, and likes partially shaded posi- 

 tions. In bleak localities it may possibly 

 require slight protection with a little 

 straw or litter during severe frosts. It 

 may be increased by cuttings of the non- 



flowering shoots inserted in cold frames 

 in late summer and autumn. 



VINCA (Peeiwinklb). — A genus con- 

 taining about 10 species of erect or trailing 

 herbs or undershrubs, with opposite leaves 

 and rather large, solitary flowers in the 

 axils of the leaves. Calyx 5-parted. 

 Corolla salver-shaped with a cylindrical 

 tube bearded within, and 5 broad twisted 

 lobes. Stamens 5. Ovary of 2 distinct 

 carpels, style thread-like, surmounted by 

 a thick viscid stigma in a cup-shaped 

 reflexed membrane. Follicles 2, erect or 

 spreading, narrowly cylindrical, many- 

 seeded. 



Culture and Propagation. — The Peri- 

 winkles are weU-known trailing perennials 

 useful for covering banks, stumps of old 

 trees, mounds of old stones or rooks, in 

 the pleasure ground, wild garden, or 

 woods. They grow in almost any soil and 

 soon spread after becoming established, 

 especially in partially shaded places. They 

 may be increased by dividing the plants 

 in either autumn or spring, or by portions 

 of the trailing stems which may have 

 developed roots in contact with the soil. 

 The following are the only hardy species 

 grown, but V. rosea, with rosy or white 

 flowers, is a pretty greenhouse plant 

 known as ' Old Maid ' or ' Madagascar 

 Periwinkle.' 



V. herbacea. — A native of Eastern 

 Europe, with stems at first erect, after- 

 wards trailing, and rooting, flowering as 

 they increase in length, and dying down 

 in winter. Leaves about 1 in. long, some- 

 what 2-ranked, elliptic or lance-shaped, 

 bluntish. Flowers from April to July, 

 and again in September, purple-blue, 

 bearded in the centre and at the throat, 

 with obliquely ovate pointed corolla 

 lobes. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



V. major {Band Plant ; Cut Finger). 

 This is the larger Periwinkle, found in 

 the woods, copses, and hedgerows of the 

 British Islands. It has tough trailing 

 stems, rooting at the tips or joints, and 

 furnished with elliptic ovate, shortly 

 stalked leaves 2-4 in. long. Flowers in 

 April and May, about 2 in. across, bluish- 

 purple, very rarely producing seed. The 

 variety elegantissima has the leaves 

 beautifully edged and marbled with 

 creamy white. There is also a white- 

 flowered variety, alba. 



Culture dc. as above. 



