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PBAGTICAL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS helonias 



nodes in the female ones. Ovary 3-celled 

 with three distinct styles. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 pretty little plant flourishes in damp and 

 shady places, and looks effective in the 

 rock garden vphen grovyn in bold masses. 

 It may be increased by seeds sown as 

 soon as ripe in cold frames, and also by 

 carefully dividing the rootstooks in spring 

 as growth is commencing. 



CHIONOGRAPHIS.— A genus with 

 only one species : — 



C. japonica. — A remarkable and pretty 

 herbaceous perennial 6-12 in. high, native 

 of Japan. It has a short thick rootstock 

 and tufts of narrow lance-shaped leaves, 

 which are smaller on the stem. The 

 small pure white flowers are borne in 

 spring in a spiked raceme 4-5 in. long, 

 and consist of 2 rows of 2, 3, and 4, or 6, 

 linear segments, the lower ones being very 

 small or wanting. Stamens 6, on the 

 base of the segments. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 plant is very little known but is cultivated 

 at Kew. It succeeds in a compost of 

 sandy loam and peat, and is suitable for 

 warm corners of the rock garden planted 

 in masses. It may be increased in 

 September by dividing the rootstooks, or 

 sowing the seeds in cold frames as soon as 

 ripe. 



XEROPHYLLUM (Turkey's 

 Beard). — A small genus of herbaceous 

 perennials with short, thick, woody root- 

 stocks, tall simple stems, and radical or 

 clustered linear stiflish grassy leaves, with 

 rough edges. Flowers numerous in dense 

 pyramidal spikes. Segments 6, distinct, 

 spreading. Stamens 6, hypogynous, longer 

 than the oblong lance-shaped segments. 



X. asphodeloides {X. setifoUum; 

 Helonias asphodeloidea). — A handsome 

 N. American perennial with dense rosettes 

 of dry stiffish awl-shaped or grassy leaves 

 12-18 in. long. The white spreading 

 flowers appear in May and are borne in 

 dense racemes 4-6 in. long, on a stem 

 1-4 ft. high. 



Culture and Propagation. — This is 

 probably the only species in the genus, 

 but American botanists recognise two or 

 three. It grows best in sandy peaty soil 

 in shaded or partially shaded places, and 

 may be increased by dividing the roots in 

 autumn. The variety tenax is simply a 

 larger form, the broader leaves being 

 often 2-3 ft. long, and the flower spikes 



2-5 ft. high. In favourable seasons seed 

 is ripened, and maj' be sovrat as soon as 

 gathered in sandy peat in pans if it is 

 desired to increase the plants. 



HELONIOPSIS.— A small genus of 

 herbaceous perennials with short root- 

 stocks, radical, stalked, oblong or lance- 

 shaped leaves, and somewhat nodding 

 flowers at the end of a scape. Perianth 

 segments narrow, distinct or sUghtly 

 united at the base. Stamens 6, ovary 

 sessile, more or less 3-lobed. 



H. japonica (Jff. umbellata), — Acurious 

 little Japanese perennial very much re- 

 sembling Helonias bullata in appearance. 

 It has tufts of lance-shaped abruptly 

 mucronate leaves, light green at the base 

 and brownish towards the tips. The 

 deep rosy flowers appear in March and 

 April, 2-3 on a stalk, the filaments being 

 tipped with deep blue anthers, and the 

 style protruding about J in. 



Culture a/nd Propagation. — This is 

 the only species out of 3 or 4 known that 

 appears to be in cultivation, It flourishes 

 in moist sandy peat, loam, and leaf soil, 

 and likes plenty of sunshine and air in 

 open but sheltered parts of the rockery. 

 It may be easily increased by division of 

 the roots late in summer, or by seeds 

 sown in cold frames when ripe. 



HELONIAS (Stud Flower). — A 

 genus with only one species : — 



H. bullata. — A beautiful N. American 

 perennial 1-1 J ft. high, with a short 

 tuberous rootstock, and oblong lance- 

 shaped radical leaves contracted into a 

 short stalk. The small purple-rose 

 flowers appear from May to July, and are 

 borne in dense cylindrical or oblong 

 racemes. The 6 spreading segments are 

 distinct or slightly united at the base, and 

 faintly 3 -nerved, while there are 6 usually 

 hypogynous stamens, the slaty -blue 

 anthers of which are very conspicuous. 

 The deeply 3-lobed capsule has many 

 seeds. The variety latifolia has leaves 

 broader than in the type. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 plant may be grown in boggy soil or wet 

 ground near ponds or lakes, but will also 

 succeed in sandy loam, peat and leaf soil 

 in a moist shaded part of the flower 

 garden. It may be increased by seeds 

 sown as soon as ripe, or by carefully 

 dividing the rootstooks, but it is safer not 

 to disturb the plants until they have 

 made good strong clumps. 



