HAEDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 



349 



They delight in shade, and are most effective when 

 planted in a border or shrubbery, growing freely in any 



Fig. 420.— Adonis pyrenaica. 



ordinary soil. Increased by division. The roots 

 are intensely poisonous, and by inexperienced 

 persons might easily be mistaken for Horse- 

 Radish. 



A. Author a. Yellow. Europe, Northern Asia. 



A. Fischeri. Bluish-purple, 4 to 6 feet. Northern 

 Hemisphere. 



A. japonicum. Flesh-coloured, 6 feet. Japan. 



A. Lycoctonum. Yellow. Europe, North Asia. 



A. Napellus, and vars. Blue, 3 to 4 feet. Northern 

 Hemisphere. 



Adonis. — Beautiful spring-flowering plants, 

 suitable for the rock-garden or border. The 

 flowers of most of the species are yellow, and 

 sometimes measure 2| inches in diameter. Essen- 

 tials to good growth are a good depth of soil, 

 the roots to be left undisturbed. A. amurensis 

 flowers early, and requires slight protection in 

 March and April, or the blooms are likely to 

 be injured by frosts. Increased by seeds or 

 divisions. 



A. amurensis. Yellow, 9 to 12 inches. Mandshuria. 

 4. pyrenaica (fig. 420). 

 A. vernalis. Yellow, 9 inches. Europe. 



/Ethionema. — ■ Pretty little cruciferous 

 plants, suitable for the rock garden, flowers white 

 or pale -rose. They grow freely in sandy loam. 

 sE. grandiflorurn is suitable for the border. Pro- 

 pagated by cuttings or seeds, and as in some 

 gardens they are apt to succumb to damp con- 

 ditions in winter, it is advisable to propagate 

 every year. 



M. coridifolium. Rosy-pink, 6 inches. Orient. 



JE. grandiflorurn. Pink, 1 foot. Perm. 



jE. persicum. Pale pinkish-lilac, 4 inches. Persia. 



Alstroemeria. — A large genus of summer-flowering, 

 fleshy-rooted plants of easy cultivation. They should be 

 planted 6 inches deep in a well-drained sunny position, 

 and with a covering of litter or boards to give protection 

 in winter they will be quite safe. The flowers, which are 

 borne in terminal umbels, are useful for cutting ; their 

 colours range from yellow, orange, and red zo deep- 

 crimson and lilac, besides several spotted and marbled 

 varieties. 



A. aurantiaca (fig. 421). Deep-orange, 3 feet. Chili. 



A. chiieusis. Mixed colours, 2 feet. 



A. iuodora. Orange, spotted brown, 3 feet. Brazil. 



A. Ligtu (pulchra, bicolor, Hookeri, &c). Variable in colour, 

 2 feet. Frequent in gardens under various names. Chili. 



A. Pelegrina, var. alba. White, 1 foot. Chili. 

 ,, var. rosea. Pink, 1 foot. 



A. pulchella (psittacina). Crimson green and brown, 3 feet. 

 Brazil. 



A. versicolor (tigrina). Yellow and purple, 1 foot. Chili. 



Alyssum. — Pretty little plants of dense growth, very 

 free-flowering and easily cultivated. They grow as well 

 on the level border as on the rockery, but owing to their 

 habit they are seen to best advantage in the latter posi- 

 tion. They are used in the same way as Aubrietias. For 

 covering the soil where bulbs are planted A. saxatile is 

 most useful. They prefer a gritty soil. Propagated by 

 seeds, cuttings, or division. A. maritimum (sweet Alyssum) 

 is an annual. 



A. montauum. White, 3 inches. Europe. 

 A. podolicum. White, 2 inches. Europe. 

 A . pyrenaicum. White, 3 inches. Pyrenees. 

 A. xnxntile. Yellow, 6 inches. Europe. 

 ,, var. citrinum. Lemon-yellow. 



Fir. 421. — Alstroemeria aurantiaea. 



