342 



FLORA AND SYLVA. 



A. Hausmanni. — A species coming very 

 near A. helvetica, but of looser habit and 

 flowers of soft pink. Summits of the Tyrol, at 

 6,000 to 8,000 feet. 



A. Heerii. — A very rare plant found only 

 upon the Martinsloch in Switzerland, and a 

 supposed cross between helvetica and glacialis. 

 Tiny saucer-shaped flowers of bright red, and 

 intermediate habit. Syn. A. bryoides. 



A. helvetica. — A charming plant of the 

 mossy section, growing in neat rounded 

 cushions of grey-green, composed of fine hairy 

 leaves set in rosettes, from thecentre of which 

 a lovely white flower with a yellow eye is put 

 forth during spring. The flowers are so large 

 as often to overlap, and their combined effect 

 like a beautiful white-flowered shrub in minia- 

 ture. Succeeds only in gritty soil and partial 

 shade, planted between limestone rocks closely 

 set and deeply buried to secure moisture and 

 drainage at the same time. Limestonesummits 

 of the Alps and Carpathians. Seeds. 



A. Hookeriana. — A new and little known 

 species from the Himalayas of Sikkim, Lachen, 

 and Donkiala, at a height of 15,000 feet. 

 Though hardy, it is very apt to damp off in 

 our winters and should be planted in a mixture 

 of peat and sand among rocks sheltered from 

 wet. It has neat rosettes of oval, shining green 

 leaves, and in spring, large deep pink flowers 

 in small clusters. 



A. imbricata. — Pretty in leaf and flower, 

 coming very near A. helvetica but of denser 

 growth, leaves narrower and silvery white with 

 fine hairs, and white flowers set off by a bright 

 rosy eye. Grow in granite or sandstone grit in 

 full sun. Syn. A. argentea. Seeds. 



A. lactea. — A free, strong-growing plant, 

 making rosettes of shining green leaves, and in 

 spring large whiteflowers with a yellow centre, 

 in broad loose clusters of five or six. Easily 

 grown in light limestone soil, in full sun cr 

 partial shade. Seeds. Limestone rocks from 

 3,000 to 4,500 feet, from the Cevennes.through 

 the Alps into Austria. Syn. A. paucijiora. 



A. lactiflora. — A biennial species from Si- 

 beria, raised from seed in autumn, wintered in 

 a cool frame, and planted out in spring. The 

 flowers, of whiteorpaleblue,are borne in large 

 loose clusters of pretty effect during summer. 

 Syns. A. coronopifolia and alismoides. 



A.Laggeri. — APyrenean kind,with clusters 



t of narrow pointed leaves, and flowers of bright 

 pink paling' towards the centre, gathered into 

 showy little heads of six or eight. Very hardy, 

 it is one of the earliest alpine flowers to open, 



! starring the cheerful green tufts like a minia- 

 ture Thrift. Sandy soil in partial shade, and 

 no lime. Seeds or cuttings. 



A. lanuginosa. — A lovely plant with trail- 

 ing silvery shoots, leaves covered with silky 

 hairs, and flower clusters of soft rose colour. 

 It does best in warm places near the sea, 

 planted in sunny corners of the rock-garden, 

 and left to trail its silvery tufts in little cas- 

 cades. Where the soil is free and not wet 

 in winter, it thrives as a border plant ; where 

 too heavy, it may be grown on " dry " walls 

 against moist earth banks. It has a long season 

 of flower even lasting into October, growing 

 best in south and west aspects, in sandy soils 

 (or even chalk), with a glass shade in winter. 

 Seed (which ripens only in good years), layers, 

 and cuttings. Western Himalayas, from 7,000 

 to 1 0,000 feet. A good form of this is Leicht- 

 lini (syn. oculata) with larger flowers of deeper 

 colour with a conspicuous eye. 



A. macrantha. — A rare kind from Armenia, 

 with rosettes of narrow, horny-tipped leaves, 

 and clusters of large pure white flowers, borne 

 upon stout stems. 



A.magellanica. — -A new species from South 

 America, not yet flowered in this country ; it is 

 like A. cylindrica in growth, with pure white 

 flowers. 



A. maxima. — Unlike others of the group 

 this is a lowland plant, growing in mountain 

 valleys of France, Switzerland, and the Pyre- 

 nees. Flowers white, with a yellow throat. 



A. obtusifolia. — A good plant, robust and 

 easily grown, with large rosettes of spoon- 

 shaped leaves fringed by fine hairs, and short 

 downy stems carrying from one to six white 

 or rosy flowers with a yellow eye. It is nearly 

 6 inches high, and may be gathered by the 

 handful upon the alpine slopes at midsummer. 

 With us it flowers earlier, planted in peaty soil 

 and in full sun. Alps and Carpathians. Syns. 

 A. aretioides and brevifolia. 



A. pubescens. — A mossy kind with leaves 

 turning reddish-brown in autumn. It may be 

 known by a small swelling on the very short 

 flower-stem, just below the flower. These are 

 white, rather large, with a faint yellow eye, 



