NIEBEMBBEGIA 



NIGHTSHADE OBDEB 



SCHIZANTHUS 699" 



N. frutescens. — A handsome shrubby 

 species 1-1-J ft. high, native of the 

 Chilian Andes, with linear leaves 1^-2 

 in. long. Flowers in early summer, 

 about 1 in. across, delicate blue shaded 

 to white at the edges, densely produced 

 on Flax-like stems. There is a pure white 

 variety called alhiflora. 



Culture dc. as above. This species is 

 as a ride hardy in the mildest parts of 

 the British Islands when the winters are 

 not very severe. It is wise however to 

 make provision to reproduce it from cut- 

 tings or seeds in spring. 



N. gracilis. — A beautiful tender downy 

 species, native of Buenos Ayres, with 

 erect stems and bluntly linear somewhat 

 spoon-shaped leaves. Flowers produced 

 very freely in summer, white streaked 

 with purple, haying a, yellow centre and 

 a very long tube, borne at the tips of the 

 young branches. 



Culture dc, as above. Although often 

 grown in pots for greenhouse and con- 

 servatory decoration this is a graceful 

 plant for the rock garden in warm sunny 

 positions during the slimmer. It may 

 be increased by seeds sown in spring and 

 autumn, and also by cuttings in spring. 



N. rivularis (White Cup). — A 

 charming perennial from La Plata with 

 slender creeping and rooting stems bearing 

 bluntly oblong or spoon-shaped leaves 

 varying in size. Flowers in late summer, 

 1-2 in. across, bell-shaped, white, with a 

 yellowish and sometimes a rosy tinge, 

 and having a very slender tube 1-2J in. 

 long. 



Cultwre a/ndi Propagation. — This is 

 the hardiest and best of all Nierembergias. 

 It likes moist sandy soil and partially 

 shaded situations where its stems can 

 ramble freely. Grown in broad patches 

 it is an effective plant in the rook garden 

 or border, as its beautiful flowers which 

 appear just above the foliage suggest a 

 mass of Snowdrops in the distance. The 

 plants may also be used effectively to 

 drape the sides of pedestal vases in the 

 centre of which taller plants are grown. It 

 may be increased by seeds or cuttings in 

 spring, or by detaching the rooted portions 

 of the stem to make separate plants. 



SCHIZANTHUS (Butterfly or 

 Fringe Flowek). — A genus containing 

 about 7 species of erect annual more or 

 less clammy herbs, aU natives of Chili. 

 Leaves often pinnately cut into incised or 



toothed segments. Flowers beautifully 

 cut or friDged, variouslj' coloured, and 

 borne in terminal cymes. Calyx deeply 

 5-cleft into linear lobes. Corolla tube 

 short or elongated, cylindrical; limb- 

 spreading, oblique, plaited, rather 2-lipped, 

 imbricated, the lips being unequally lobed. 

 Fertile stamens 2, attached to the top of 

 the tube, protruding. Capsule membra- 

 nous, many-seeded. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 Fringe Flowers may be treated as hardy 

 and half-hardy annuals and flourish in a 

 rich sandy loam. They are useful plants 

 for the border or in masses or beds by 

 themselves, producing a fine effect. Seeds 

 may be sown in heat in February and 

 March, the seedlings being ready for 

 planting out at the end of May. When 

 requited for greenhouse or conservatory 

 decoration in pots, they are best raised 

 from seeds sown in August and September, 

 and grown on during winter in light airy 

 houses, or in cold frames free from frost. 

 At the beginning of the year they may be 

 shifted into larger pots in good rich soU, 

 when they wUl develop into fine speci- 

 mens, especially if fed with a little liquid 

 manure occasionally. 



S. candidus. — A pretty species about 

 2 ft. high, with deeply cut and divided 

 leaves and a wealth of white irregularly 

 cut flowers in July. 



Culture dc. as above. Sow seeds in 

 February or March, and plant out in 

 May. 



S. Grahami. — A handsome bushy 

 half-hardy annual or biennial about 2 ft. 

 high, with leaves once or twice pinnately 

 out into deep-toothed segments. Flowers 

 in great profusion from June to October, 

 large, lUac or rose, the under Up yellow, 

 tinged with lilac. There is a white- 

 flowered variety. 



Culture dc. as above. Treat like 8. 

 candidus. 



S. Hookeri is similar to 8. Grahami 

 in habit, height and division of the 

 foliage, but has pale rosy flowers with a 

 yellow upper lip, the middle lobe of the 

 lower lip being furnished with 2 long 

 horns. Stamens protruding. 



Culture dc. as above. Treat like 8. 

 candidus. 



S. pinnatus {S. Evansianus ; 8. pin- 

 natifidus ; 8. porrigens). — A beautiful 

 downy annual about 2 ft. high, with 

 leaves once or twice pinnately and ele- 



