38 THE BOOK OF THE WILD GARDEN 



easily raised from seed scattered over sandy soil, and 

 generally reproduces itself freely. Sometimes it sud- 

 denly dies out, when it should be sown anew. L. 

 antirrhinifolia and L. saxatilis are pretty trailing perennials. 



Lithospermum. — L. prostratum is a lovely plant when at 

 its best, and may sometimes be seen covering fully six 

 feet of rock face with a veil of deep blue. It likes a 

 sunny position for its above-ground growth, but its roots, 

 which travel many feet, should be able to find moisture 

 during the dryest weather, and for this reason it is well 

 to plant where they may travel inwards to a distance 

 beneath and behind rocks. The British L. purpureo- 

 c&ruleum is also pretty. 



Lychnis* — L. a/pina, L. Lagascce and L. pyrenaica are 

 three interesting dwarf species best fitted for planting on 

 ledges of the rock, whence they may scatter their seed at 

 will. They bear pink, bright rose, and flesh-coloured 

 flowers respectively. 



Lysimachia. — L. nummular ia, Creeping Jenny. This 

 well-known trailer, commonly used in window-boxes, a 

 native of Britain, spreads rapidly in sunny spots, its 

 yellow flowers being very showy. 



Maianthemum bifolium. — Syns. Convallaria, Smilacina. A 

 little plant allied to the Lily of the Valley, but smaller, 

 being about six inches in height. It bears white flowers 

 in May, and should be grown in shady spots under trees. 



Morisia. — M. hypogaa is a pretty little rock-plant, pro- 

 ducing clear yellow flowers in the early spring. It is of 

 easy culture, succeeding in porous soil, well drained, in 

 a sunny site. Its dark, tufted foliage shows off the 

 golden flowers to advantage. 



Myosotis. — Forget-me-not. M. dissitiflora is one of the 

 gems of the spring garden. Plants allowed to remain 

 undisturbed after blooming will be surrounded in the 

 autumn with self-sown seedlings which may be removed 

 to places where they are wanted to flower. 



