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PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO QABDEN PLANTS veeonica 



borne in great profusion from May to 

 July and August in the axils of the upper 

 leaves. 



Culture dc. as above. This is an 

 excellent rock plant and may be grown in 

 warm sunny nooks and comers, or in the 

 chinks of rocks where its roots can obtain 

 plenty of moisture. It may be increased 

 by cuttings in late summer and autumn 

 in cold frames. 



V. gentianoides. — A pretty Caucasian 

 perennial, with tufted stems 6-12 in. or 

 more high. Leaves 1-3 in. long, thickish, 

 crowded below, obovate or oblong, entire 

 or slightly orenate. Flowers in May and 

 June, greyish-blue, rather large, slightly 

 bearded in the throat, in erect spikes. 

 There is a white -flowered variety, alha, 

 and one with variegated leaves — both 

 worth growing. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 division. 



V. glauco-csrulea. — A dwarf decum- 

 bent or somewhat erect, much-branched 

 New Zealand shrub, distinguished by its 

 densely glaucous appearance, and slightly 

 hairy branches. Leaves closely imbri- 

 cated, ^ in. long, obovate-oblong acute, 

 rather concave. Flowers deep blue, 

 changing to purple, in short few-flowered 

 racemes. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 cuttings. 



V. Haasti. — A handsome New Zealand 

 shrub 1-3 ft. high, with smooth shining 

 green oblong elliptic leaves about 1 in. 

 long, and with a, dark ring round the stem 

 at each joint. The small pure white 

 flowers appear in Jtrne at the tops of the 

 shoots, and are rendered conspicuous by 

 the red anthers on the white stamens. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 cuttings in late summer and autumn in 

 cold frames. 



V. Hectori. — This is a very ornamental 

 shrubby species 1^-3 ft. high. It has 

 roundish branches to which the triangular 

 scale-like leaves are closely appressed. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 cuttings in late summer or autumn. This 

 species seems to be quite hardy in the 

 Thames Valley. 



V. Hulkeana. — A pretty New Zealand 

 shrub, 1-3 ft. high. Leaves in distant 

 pairs, 1-1^ in. long, oblong ovate, coarsely 

 toothed, and rather leathery in texture. 

 Flowers in summer, lilac, | in. across, 



in opposite - branched panicles, 4-10 in. 

 long. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 cuttings. 



V. incana (F. Candida; V. canescens ; 

 V. neglecta). — A Kussian perennial, about 

 2 ft. high, with oblong or lanoe-shaped 

 silvery leaves about 2 in. long, and ra- 

 cemes of dark blue or purplish flowers in 

 summer. 



Culture dc. as above. This is a free 

 grower, and is easily increased, either by 

 division in spring, or cuttings in autumn. 



V. longifolia. — A native of Central 

 Europe, 2-4 ft. high, with opposite or 

 temately whorled leaves, ovate or oblong- 

 lance-shaped, taper-pointed, and sharply 

 serrate. Flowers in August, lilac, white, 

 rose or purple, in dense racemes. This is 

 often confused with V. spicata. There is 

 a form having the leaves more or less 

 constantly but irregularly variegated. 



The variety subsessiUs is a native of 

 Japan, 2-4 ft. high, and is distinguished 

 from the type by its shortly stalked and 

 simply serrated leaves 2-4 in. long, and 

 its large dense spikes of deep purple-blue 

 flowers. 



Culture dc. as above. This is a fine 

 garden plant, and flourishes in deep rich 

 loamy soil. Increased by division, cut- 

 ings, or seeds. 



V. Lyalli. — A beautiful New Zealand 

 shrub with slender trailing stems 5-15 

 in. long, rooting at the joints. Leaves 

 j-^ in. long, ovate to ovate lance-shaped 

 with a few coarse teeth. Flowers in 

 summer, white, veined with pink in the 

 throat, nearly i in. across, and borne on 

 slender axillary stalks 3-8 in. long. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 

 separated portions of the rooted stems. 



V. orientalis (V. taurica). — A dwarf 

 wiry species native of the Levant, forming 

 dark green tufts about 3 in. high. Leaves 

 linear lance-shaped entire or toothed. 

 Flowers in July, gentian-blue, freely 

 produced in axillary racemes. 



Culture dc. as above. Useful for the 

 rock garden drooping from fissures, or 

 at the base rambling over stones. It 

 flourishes in light well-drained loam and 

 may be increased by division or seeds. 



V. paniculata (F. amethysiina). — A 

 native of S.E. Europe, 1-3 ft. high, with 

 somewhat spreading smooth or hoary 

 pubescent stems and lanoe-shaped acute 



