HARDY HERBACEOUS PERENNIALS. 



365 



in shady places, and is most effective in patches 2 feet or 

 more across. Height 6 inches. Propagated by division. 

 It is a rare British plant. 



Malva (Musk Mallow). — A large genus containing 

 several showy summer-flowering perennials. The flowers 



Fig. 446.— Lycoris squamigera. 



are mostly pink and white, with large satiny petals, and 

 are pretty and useful for cutting. M. nioschata and var. 

 alba are the best known in gardens; both grow to a height 

 of 2 feet, and are fragrant. Propagated by seeds. 



Meconopsis. — A genus peculiar to the Himalaya, ex- 

 cept M. cambrica, the Welsh Poppy, and M. heterophylla, 

 a pretty Californian annual. M. Wallichii, the Blue 

 Himalayan Poppy, is an excellent plant for moist, shady 

 positions in the rock garden, its erect stems, 3 to 4 feet 

 high, clothed with large Poppy-like mauve-blue flowers, 

 with ring of pale-yellow stamens, being very ornamental. 

 To ensure success with it, seeds should be sown in Feb- 

 ruary, the seedlings being pricked out and grown in pots 

 in a mixture of peat, loam, and sand until ready for 

 planting out. They should be given shade, and plenty of 

 moisture at the root. 



M. cambrica. Yellow, 1 foot. Europe (Britain). 



M. Wallichii (fig. 447). Bluish-mauve, 4 feet. Himalaya. 



Melissa officinale (Balm) has fragrant leaves which 

 afford the well-known odour of balm. Its native habitat, 

 like several of the savory herbs, is the Mediterranean 

 region. Stems 1 to 2 feet high ; flowers white, Salvia-like. 

 There is a variegated form which is used for edging. In- 

 creased by division and seeds. 



Melittis rndi&sophyllum (Bastard Balm). — A distinct 

 plant a foot high, with broad corrugated leaves and 

 cream-coloured Salvia-like flowers 1^ inch long, with a 

 crimson blotch on the lower lip. It likes shade, and is 

 easily naturalized, flowering in May. Widely distributed 



over Europe and Asia, including Britain. Propagated by 

 seeds or division. 



Merendera. — Closely related to Colchicum, and re- 

 quiring similar treatment. The Spanish M. Bulbocodium 

 flowers in autumn, whilst M. coMcasica is one of the earliest 

 spring -flowering bulbs. Both have pale pinkish -lilac 

 flowers 3 inches high. Suitable for the rockery and .small 

 border. Increased by offsets and seeds. 



Mertensia. — A beautiful genus of Borageworts. The 

 flowers are blue or shades of blue and lilac, produced in 

 cymes at the ends of stems about \\ foot in height. The 

 leaves are of a bluish -green tint, quite ornamental in 

 themselves. M. virginica, the Virginian Cowslip, thrives 

 in a moist peaty soil in border or rock garden, and flowers 



Fig. 447.— Meconopsis Wallichii. 



in early spring. M. sibirica lasts longer in flower, and is 

 of easy culture. 



M. sibirica. Light-blue, U foot. Siberia. 



,, var. alba. White, Ik foot. 

 M. virginica. Mauve-blue, U foot. North America 



