LITHOSPER MUM PURPU'REO-C^RU'LEUM. 
PURPLE AND BLUE GROMWELL. 
Class. Order. 
PENTANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
BORAGIN F,/E. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Inhabits 
England. 
1 foot. 
May, June. 
Perennial. 
Chalky soil. 
No. 413. 
The ancient word, Lithosperraum, originated in 
the Greek lithos, a stone; and sperma, a seed. 
The compound specific term is translated in the 
English name.. The meaning of the old word, 
Groinwell, is uncertain. It was sometimes called 
pearl plant, from its white seeds. 
This is one amongst the prettiest native plants 
of which England can boast. Its changeable hue, 
and the brightness of its fine blue tints, when fully 
expanded, render it particularly attractive. Its 
flowering stems are rather short and upright, whilst 
its abortive stems run on the surface of the ground, 
twice or thrice the length of those which bear flowers. 
It rarely produces many seeds; and in no instance 
have we seen more than one succeed each flower, 
whilst the rudiments only of the other three remain 
in the calyx. Its seeds are singularly hard, glossy, 
and grey, like polished marble. 
It should be planted near to the front of the par- 
terre, that its little gay flowers might be fully expo- 
sed. Its trailing stems should be turned back, and 
hooked down, as layers for increase. It grows free- 
ly in a light soil, mixed with old mortar. 
Hort. Kew. 2, v. 1, 288. 
104 
