138 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
Erodium (Heron’s or Stork’s Bill). — This genus belongs 
to the Geranium order (Geraniaceae), and in many respects is 
similar to the hardy geraniums. E. Manescavi (Heron’s Bill) 
is a native of the Pyrenees, grows i to 2ft. high, bears large 
rosy-crimson flowers in trusses in summer. E. macradenum 
(Black-eyed Heron’s Bill) has parsley-like foliage and blush 
flowers, veined with purple, borne in summer ; height 6in. 
E. olympicum has silvery foliage and shell-pink flowers, borne 
in June. Rockery. E. chamaedryoides (Syn. E. Reichardi) 
is another dwarf species from Majorca, with white or pink 
flowers. E. Manescavi will grow in any soil in sunny bor- 
ders, but the others require to be grown on sunny rockeries 
in sandy soil. Plant in autumn or spring. Increased by seeds 
sown in sandy soil in cold frames in spring, also by division 
of the roots in October or March. 
Eryngrium (Sea Holly). — Hardy perennials, with hand- 
some spiny, holly-like foliage and flower heads surrounded by 
spiny bracts. They belong to the Parsley order (Umbelliferae). 
The great beauty of the plants belonging to this genus lies 
in the metallic blue or silvery tints of their stems and bracts. 
On this account the plants not only form beautiful objects in 
the garden, but their flower-heads are also equally beautiful 
and quaint subjects for cutting for indoor decoration. They 
will succeed in ordinary soil in well-drained sunny borders, 
and may be planted in autumn or spring. Increased by 
division of the roots in autumn, also by seeds sown in sandy 
soil in a cold frame in autumn or spring. The most note- 
worthy kinds are: E. alpinum (Alpine Sea Holly), with 
lavender-blue flower-heads and metallic blue stems and bracts ; 
height, 2 to 3ft. ; native of Alps. E. Bourgati, with stems, 
flowers and bracts ot a steely-blue tint ; height, 2ft. ; Pyrenees. 
E. giganteum (Ivory Thistle), foliage and stems a glistening 
silvery white ; flowers, blue ; bracts, blue-green ; height, 3 to 
4ft. ; Caucasus. E. maritimum (Sea Holly), foliage, etc., 
silvery-grey ; flowers, bluish-white ; height, 1 to 2ft. ; Britain. 
E. oliverianum, stems and flower-heads steely blue ; height, 
3ft. Superbum is a variety with bracts of a more intense blue 
tint. E. planum has small thistle-like, ball-shaped flowers, 
and is very elegant ; height, 1 to 2ft. ; E. Europe. E. cornicu- 
latum (Syn. tripartitum) has finely cut greyish foliage, steely- 
blue flowers and large bracts ; height, 3ft. E. amethystinum 
has amethyst-purple flowers, violet-purple stems ; height, 1 to 
2ft. : Dalmatia. There are two pretty hybrids : Hybridum. 
bracts and flowers rich blue ; and Zabelii, glistening blue stems 
and bracts. Springhill Seedling has deep, steel-blue bracts. 
