120 
BEAUTIFUL GARDEN FLOWERS. 
plant, 1 to 2 feet high, with roundish peltate leaves 
divided into 6 to 8 triangular toothed lobes. The 
flower stems are forked, and large bunches of drooping 
purple flowers are borne in the axil, being succeeded 
by green and purple berries 1 to 2 inches long. 
POLEMONIUM ( Greek Valerian ). — These distinct- 
looking plants of the Phlox family usually have 
divided leaves and clusters of funnel or bell-shaped 
blossoms. They flourish in good rich garden soil, and 
are easily increased in spring by dividing the root- 
stocks or by seeds. The best species for massing in the 
border or rock garden are : P. coeruleum (Jacob’s 
Ladder), 1 to 3 feet, native of Britain, with 6 to 12 
pairs of ovate leaflets, and blue or white flowers in 
June and July (Plate 11, fig. 30); there are several 
forms, such as dissectum, the leaflets of which are 
divided a second time ; himalayanum and campanula- 
turn, both with lilac-blue blossoms; P. confertum, from 
the Rocky Mountains, is only about 6 inches high, with 
rich blue flowers ; P. humile (or Richardsoni) ,P . mexica- 
num, and P. pulchellum are similar kinds with blue or 
purple flowers. P. flavum , 2 to 3 feet high, and P. 
pauciflorum, 1 to 2 feet high, are yellow-flowered. 
POLYANTHUS. — The Garden Polyanthuses are 
said to be descended from Primula variabilis, itself a 
hybrid between the common Primrose (P. vulgaris), 
and the Cowslip (P. officinalis). Unlike the Primrose, 
the umbels of flowers are thrown up above the foliage. 
The forms with pure and well-defined colours and 
large flat corollas are better than those with indefinite 
shades and irregular outlines. The “ gold laced ” 
Polyanthuses are a charming group, characterised by 
