CBDEONEELA 



LAVENDER OBDEB 



SCUTELLARIA 753 



C. cordata [Dracocephalum corda- 

 tum). — A native of the North United 

 States 4-6 in. high, with trailing shoots, 

 and almost stalkless ovate heart-shaped 

 crenate leaves. Flowers in May and 

 June, light purple, in bracteate spikes. 



Culture dc. as above. This species is 

 suitable for the rock garden or edges of 

 borders, and shrubbery, in sandy loam 

 and peat. Increased by division and 

 cuttings like C. carta. 



C. mexicana (Gardoquia betonicce- 

 folia). — A Mexican shrub 2-3 ft. high 

 with broadly ovate lance-shaped, toothed 

 leaves, and many-flowered whorls of 

 purplish blossoms borne in July on 

 interrupted spikes or racemes at the ends 

 of the shoots. 



Culture dc. as above. Bequires similar 

 treatment to C. triphylla. 



C. triphylla (Dracocephalum canari- 

 ense). — Balm of Gilead. — A distinct 

 shriTbby perennial 3-4 ft. high, native of 

 the Canary Islands. Leaves tri-seoted 

 into oblong lance-shaped segments, and 

 emitting a fragrant odour when gently 

 bruised. Flowers in summer, white or 

 pale purple, in loose whorls on roundish- 

 oblong spikes. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 species, which is better known than the 

 others, is not quite hardy in this country 

 and requires to be grown in warm 

 sheltered situations facing south in sandy 

 loam, peat and leaf soil. It may be 

 increased by cuttings of the young shoots 

 in spring, and is also easily raised from 

 seed sown at the same period under 

 glass. 



SCUTELLARIA (Helmet Flowbk ; 

 Skull Cap). — A genus of hardy annual 

 or perennial herbs or undershrubs, de- 

 cumbent or spreading, rarely erect and 

 tall, with leaves often toothed, sometimes 

 pinuately cut or quite entire. Flowers 

 axillary, solitary or in pairs, or in ter- 

 minal spikes and racemes. Calyx bell- 

 shaped, 2-lipped ; lips entire, ultimately 

 enclosing the fruits, the upper lip furnished 

 with a helmet-shaped appendage which 

 enlarges as the fruit is becoming ripe. 

 Corolla 2-lipped with a long tube dilated 

 at the throat ; upper lip erect, helmet- 

 shaped entire or emarginate, the lower 

 lip spreading or deflexed broadly convex, 

 the side-lobes free and spreading, often 

 united with the upper lip, rarely with the 

 lower. Stamens 4, didynamous, the 



anthers united in pairs. Nutlets round- 

 ish or depressed, tubercular hairy, rarely 

 smooth. 



There are about 90 species belonging 

 to this genus, but only a few are fit for 

 the outdoor garden, although several, of 

 which S. mociniana is probably the best, 

 are grown in greenhouses. 



Culture and Propagation. — The 

 hardy kinds may be increased by division 

 of the roots or tufts in spring, but 

 perhaps more readily by seeds sown 

 in gentle heat in February or March, or 

 in the open border m April and May 

 in half-.shaded positions in light sandy 

 soil. The plants are useful for the flower 

 border in masses or in parts of the rockery. 



S. alpina. -^ A vigorous spreading 

 Central European species with pro- 

 cumbent stems often rooting at the lower 

 joints. Leaves shortly stalked, broadly 

 ovate aeutish, somewhat crenate-toothed, 

 downy or hairy, the upper ones coloured 

 and imbricated. Flowers in August, 

 1-1^ in. long, purple, with the tube or 

 lower lip yellow, on oblong tetragonal 

 spikes. The variety lupuUna has wholly 

 yellow flowers, while hicolor has the 

 upper lip purple and the lower one 

 white. 



Culture d-c. as above. 8. alpina and 

 its varieties may be used in the rock 

 garden or the fronts of borders forming 

 elegant tufts or carpets of foliage. Easily 

 increased by dividing the rooted stems in 

 spring, or by seed. 



S. japonica. — • A trailing Japanese 

 perennial, the branches ascending at the 

 ends. Leaves stalked, bluntly ovate, 

 deeply crenate, smooth, about li in. long 

 at the base but gradually becoming 

 shorter upwards. Flowers in summer, 

 blue, downy, opposite, in loose racemes 

 about 6 in. long. 



Culture Sc. as above. Eequires similar 

 treatment to S. alpina. 



S. macrantha. — An excellent Siberian 

 perennial with smoothish purplish stems 

 procumbent at the base, but ascending at 

 the tips, usually less than 1 ft. high and 

 forming dense bushy tufts. Leaves 

 stalkless, blimtly lance-shaped, entire, 

 ciliated. Flowers in August, blue, about 

 1 in. long, in many simple racemes ; 

 ooroUa-tube much dilated upwards and 

 having an incurved hood. 



Culture dc. as above. Increased by 



3c 



