754 



PBACTICAL GUIDE TO GAEDEN PLANTS melittis 



division and seed. A fine border plant, 

 also known as S. baicalensis. 



PRUNELLA or BRUNELLA 



(Self Heal). — A small genus of de- 

 cumbent or somewhat erect - growing 

 perennials with entire, incised - toothed, 

 or pinuately cut leaves, those on the 

 flower stems being reduced to bracts. 

 Flowers purple, blue, or white, in dense 

 terminal spikes. Calyx tubular, bell- 

 shaped, 2-lipped, -irregularly 10-nerved. 

 Corolla 2-lipped, with a broad tube, the 

 upper lip erect helmet-shaped entire, the 

 lower one 3-lobed, the 3 side-lobes being 

 deflexed. Stamens 4, two long and two 

 short. 



P. g-randiflora. — A pretty European 

 perennial about 6 in. high, somewhat 

 resembling our common British Self Heal 

 (P. vulgaris) in appearance. It has 

 stalked ovate, toothed or entire leaves, 

 and produces its erect trusses of violet or 

 purple flowers in July and August. The 

 variety alha has pure white flowers, but 

 otherwise resembles the type. The 

 variety laciniafa has deeply cut leaves 

 and deep purple flowers, and webhiana, 

 which grows about 9 in. high, has dense 

 clusters of crimson-purple blossoms, the 

 sub-variety major having richer violet- 

 purple ones. 



Culture cmd Propagation. — These 

 plants flourish in ordinary garden soil, 

 which however should be in a well- 

 drained condition, as too much moisture 

 at the root in winter is very injurious to 

 them. They may be grown m the rock 

 garden or border in damp and partially 

 shaded places, and look effective in bold 

 masses. They are readily increased by 

 division in early autumn or in spring, 

 and also by seeds sown when ripe in cold 

 frames. 



PHYSOSTEGIA (False Deagon 

 Head). — A genus containing 3 species 

 of pretty, tall, erect-growing smooth or 

 slightly downy perennials with serrate 

 leaves. Calyx tubular bell shaped, 

 obscurely 10-nerved, nearly equally 5- 

 toothed, increasing in size and becoming 

 inflated as the fruit ripens. Corolla 2- 

 lipped, much dilated beyond the middle, 

 the upper lip sub-erect and rather concave 

 entire or emarginate ; the lower lip spread- 

 ing 8-lobed. Stamens 4, didynamous, 

 enclosed by the upper lip; anthers 

 approaching in pairs. Nutlets sharply 



three - angled, rounded at the apex, 

 smooth. 



Culture and Propagation. — Physo- 

 stegias flourish in a rich light soil and 

 are useful plants for the flower border. 

 During hot dry summers it is necessary 

 to give them a good soaking with water 

 occasionally, otherwise the leaves are apt 

 to drop or turn yellow and the flower 

 spikes do not attain their full beauty. 



They are usually increased by dividing 

 the rootstocks in spring and replanting 

 them 12-18 in. apart. Seeds may also be 

 sown in the open and somewhat shady 

 border in April and May, and the seedhngs 

 may be transplanted in September or the 

 following spring. Owing to their creeping 

 underground rootstocks they soon spread 

 and require disturbing almost every year. 



P. imbricata {Dracocephalum specio- 

 sum). — A tall and handsome perennial 

 3-6 ft. high, native of Texas, with bright 

 green 4-angled stems, and narrow sessile 

 lance-shaped coarsely and irregularly 

 toothed deep green leaves 3-5 in. long, 

 becoming smaller up the stem. Flowers 

 from July to September in dense axUlary 

 and terminal spikes, soft pinkish-purple, 

 inflated and gaping, the middle lobe of the 

 lower being dotted %vith purple. Botani- 

 caUy this is supposed to be a variety of 

 P. virgimiana and is sometimes called 

 P. V. speciosa. 



Culture dc. as above. 



P. virg^iniana {Dracocephalum virgini- 

 anum; D. variegatiim). — A very variable 

 species 1-4 ft. high, with thiokish lance- 

 shaped or oblong ovate acute sharply and 

 irregularly toothed bright green leaves.. 

 Flowers from July to September, tubular, 

 pinky - purple, about 1 in. long, in 

 simple or branched racemes at the ends 

 of the branches. The variety denticula- 

 turn (also known as Dracocephalum den- 

 ticulatum) is recognised by its dwarf 

 stature, rarely exceeding 12-18 in. high ; 

 it has obovate lance-shaped, crenulate,^ 

 denticulate or obscurely serrated leaves, 

 and loose slender spOves of rosy-purple 

 flowers, the lower lip being spotted with 

 red. There is also a white-flowered 

 variety album, dwarfer in habit than the 

 type. 



Culture dc. as above. 



MELITTIS (Bastard Balm). — A 

 genus with only one species: — 



M. Melissophyllum. — A beautiful 

 native perennial with long creeping root- 



