157 
species, of which only a small number 
are grown in gardens. They are of very 
slender growth, with scanty foliage and 
much - branched flower - heads upon 
which the tiny blossoms hang together 
upon stems so fine as to have earned the 
name of Lace Flowers and Summer 
Cloud . They are all hardy in the free and 
fertile soils that suit them best, growing 
freely in open and rather dry places, 
where they should be let alone as far 
as possible. The following kinds are 
in cultivation : — 
G. ccrastioidcs. — A distinct hardy kind from 
the north of India, forming Httle tufts only 3 
GvpsopHiLA Cekastioides in the Rock-Garden. 
inches high which are a sheet of flowers in 
May and June. The leaves are narrow, about 
1 \ incheslong, spoon-shaped, and covered with 
fine hairs. The flowers vary a good deal in 
size and colour but are larger than in most kinds, 
being about half-an-inch across and freely pro- 
duced in small clusters. They are white or 
pale lilac in colour with reddish-purple veins 
upon the petals andpurpleshadingonthe under 
side, or sometimes netted all over with reddish- 
purple. A little gem for the rock-garden, it is 
best planted in broad patches, drooping prettily 
over bare ledges and growing fast in a sunny 
place and in deep soil. Seed, and cuttings. 
G. elegans. — A pretty annual species of i 2 
to 1 8 inches high, much grown for its delicate 
heads of rosy-white flowers borne throughout 
the summer. The plants grow very fast, and 
for early flowers seed may be raised in heat and 
the young plants put out in April ; succession 
is secured by sowing later in the open. Light 
! rich soil and abundant moisture are essential, 
for the plant is shallow-rooted and soon suffers 
from drought. By sowing seed in August and 
keeping the young plants very cool under glass 
in winter, they may be flowered in pots as early 
i as April and May, and are then useful for the 
I greenhouse and conservatory. Grown in the 
■ open the flowers last a long time in beauty and 
! are very effective in the front of the border. 
I They are larger than in pan icu lata ^ and the 
stemless leaves are of two shapes, the lower 
j ones spoon-shaped, and the upper ones narrow. 
G. fastigiata. — An old kind now rarely seen 
in gardens, though a nativeof Europe. It grows 
i about a foot high, with smooth and narrow 
leaves of a somewhat fleshy texture, and heads 
of pale red flowers during summer, 
j G. glauca. — A plant of western Asia, with 
j hairy stems of about 1 8 inches, bearing narrow 
i and fleshy leaves of grey-green colour, and heads 
! of white flowers. Being few-flowered and 
somewhat clammy it has never been much 
favoured in gardens. 
GJibanotica. — A pretty little plant of recent 
introduction, distinct and pleasingf or the rock- 
I garden. It makes neat tufts, with grey-green 
leaves about i \ inches long, and dainty heads of 
pure-white flowers during late summer. Syria. 
G. Mangimi. — A perennial herb introduced 
a few years ago from Siberia. It forms stout 
and fleshy roots, silvery grey stems and foliage, 
and rather large flowers of pale rose-colour 
i gathered into small clusters, 
j G. muralis. — A graceful little plant from 
j the mountains of Europeandthe north of Asia, 
j of annual duration, and pretty for edgings or 
as low tufts of about 9 inches in the rock- 
j garden. These dense little mounds are of very 
! delicate appearance, the fine stems branched 
! inalldirections and covered with narrow leaves 
! and soft pink flowers, which continue during 
I a great part of the summer. 
G. paniculata. — The best-known and most 
I useful of all, and a plant quite indispensable 
j where cut flowers are required in quantity. It 
I does best in light well-drained soil and a sunny 
' place, growing 3 to 4 feet high, with narrow 
sharply-pointed leaves of about 3 inches, be- 
coming smaller towards the tips of the stems. 
From thelatter part of July and through August 
it bears a cloud of tiny white flowers upon 
