136 FAMILIAR GARDEN FLOWERS. 



tube much puffed out, the limb expanding 1 regularly lite 

 a miniature gloxinia, the colour pale red. 



Cup/tea verticillata is a nearly hardy species of moderate 

 growth, the flower tube yellowish-red, the limb expanding 

 irregularly and curiously, the colour violet. 



The cupheas belong to the family of loosestrifes, of 

 which perhaps the best-known garden flowers are the 

 lysimachias. That any of these will stop strife will of 

 course be understood, or why should they have such a 

 collective and enviable name ? Hear what the great Pliny 

 saith : "If a pair of yoked oxen quarrel, a branch of 

 loosestrife laid upon their shoulders will effect an in- 

 stantaneous and perfect reconciliation." Dodoens, speak- 

 ing of the yellow lysimachia, says : " The perfume of this 

 herbe dryed, driueth away all Serpentes and venemous 

 beasts, and killeth flies and knattes. 5 -' Gerarde makes a 

 variation on the drying of the perfume by saying, " The 

 smoke of the burned herbe driueth away serpents ; '' and 

 he quotes Pliny to the effect that " it dieth haire yellow ; 

 which is not very vnlike to be done by reason the flowers 

 are yellow.'" 



