.January 17, 19(13. 
THE GARDENING WORLD . 
1harb\> Ibevbaceous plants. 
Corvdalis thalictrifolia. 
While closely allied to Dicentra (of which D. spectabilis is 
the noblest representative) the species of Corvdalis are scarcely 
so frequently seen in cultivation, or they, at least, receive less 
marked attention. Some of the oldest are C. solida, C. 
cava, and C. lutca. All these take care of themselves when 
once planted, and, under favourable conditions, they establish 
themselves in fresh ground, either by means of their tuberous 
or fleshy roots, or, on the other hand, by means of seeds. C. 
lutea is the most enterprising in this respect, and is happy if 
it can lind an old wall in which the seedlings can spring up and 
establish themselves. 
The species under notice gives promise of taking care of 
itself ina. similar way, for the plant first placed on the rockery 
at Kew stood out. the winter of 1901 1902, and in the spring 
of the latter year a colony of seedlings sprang up around the 
Corvdalis thalictrifolia. 
mother plant from self-sown seeds. The old plant continued 
healthy and strong, so that it is evidently a true perennial. 
The seedlings were transplanted into a bed on the grass, and 
very soon attained flowering size, after which they continued 
in bloom till late in October last. This proves that it may be 
utilised either as a rock garden plant or a subject for bedding. 
A veiy appropriate use for it would be as a plant for carpeting 
the ground beneath or amongst taller subjects that would not 
offer too dense shade. 
Another use, and one which we should least suspect of this 
class of plants, is as a winter flowering subject for a cool, well- 
lighted greenhouse. By cool, -we mean in contradistinction to 
a stove. The genial warmth is just sufficient to keep the plant 
growing slowly and flowering freely. Last year it was flower¬ 
ing by this time in the nursery of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons, 
Chelsea, and was still as floriferous at the beginning of June. 
The species was introduced by them from Ichang, in Central 
China, where it was picked up by their collector, Mr. E. H. 
Wilson, growing at low elevations on the ledges of limestone 
cliffs, and rooting deeply into the crevices. 
The plant is not particular in the matter of soil and situation 
under cultivation. Any good garden soil, if well drained and 
free from stagnant moisture in the winter, will suit it. For 
pot work some fibrous loam and one-tliird of leaf-mould, in 
conjunction with sand, will furnish all the necessaries it re¬ 
quires. 
Our illustration will give a good idea of the general features 
of the plant. The pinnately-divided leaves have ovate and 
cuneate divisions, of a light green above and glaucous beneath ; 
they are also remarkable for the thick texture of the tissues, 
which one would hardly have expected in a plant of this natural 
order. The flowers are yellow, with a green blotch on the 
back of the outer petals, and are borne in long, lateral racemes 
from the axils of the leaves. Whether it will withstand the 
rigours of a severe winter in this country remains to be seen, 
but if it will its value will be greatly enhanced. 
Irises now in Bloom. 
Several early flowering Irises are now in bloom. Owing to 
the extremely mild character of the weather for some weeks 
past, a number of the early flowering species have come into 
bloom splendidly in the open air. A number of these are to 
be seen in the Alpine House at Kew, but several of them are 
also flowering at the foot of (lie* south aspect wall in the liei 
bacepus ground. 
Amongst those flowering in the Alpine House is Iris Tauri, 
a native of Silicia, and a dwarf and very handsome species. 
The falls of this plant are maroon-violet at the apex, striped 
and veined with violet on a white ground, and having a golden 
ridge along the centre. The standards are deep blue, and of 
small size, while the stigmas are deep blue, showy, and deeply 
bifid. 
Another species now in bloom very closely resembles the 
above, except in the matter of colour. This is named I Hauss- 
knechti. The falls are deep brownish-purple, with a yellow 
and spotted ridge along the centre ; the standards are small, 
spreading, and pale brown ; the stigmas are bifid, toothed, and 
pale purple, so that, in these respects, it is very similar to I. 
Tauri except in colour. 
A much more handsome Iris is that named I. Histrio, a 
better-known plant, introduced from Palestine in 1R73. The 
leaves are four-angled, very similarly to those of I. reticubta. 
The falls are deep blue, ornamented with violet snots on a 
white ground, and having a concave yellow ridge. The 
standards are slightly lacerated ; the stigmas are erect and 
bright blue. The flowers are much larger than those of its 
nearest ally, and very showy. 
The Winged Iris (I. alata) is a native of the Mediterranean 
region, and is also possessed of flowers of remarkable beauty. 
The falls are spreading and light blue*, with pale veins, and an 
orange ridge along the centre, but this bright colour fades to 
yellow as the flower reaches its full development. The 
standards are small, spreading and often fluted. The stigmas 
are large, slightly incurved, deeply bifid, and toothed, or even 
lacerated along the edges, and are of a deep blue colour, 
fading to light blue when fully expanded. All the above four 
are flowering in the Alpine House. 
In front of a low wall near the Alpine House, in the herba¬ 
ceous garden, the- bright and sweet-scented Iris unguicularis 
may be seen. The flowers are blue-purple, differing slightly 
in intensity according to the variety.. The falls are ornamented 
with violet lines on a white ground on the lower half, and have 
a yellow median band. The standards are obovate, and as 
broad as the falls above the middle. This beautiful and in¬ 
teresting species is a native of Algeria, and is perhaps better 
known in this country under the name of I. stylosa. Providing 
the winter is mild it usually blooms more or less continuouAv 
from November till well into spring in the suburbs of London. 
In the open border may also be seen the beautiful species, I. 
stenophylla, better known as I. Heldreichi and I. persica 
Heklreichi, which differs chiefly from Iris persica by its larger 
flowers and brighter colours. 
Here also is the beautiful I. Vartani, having falls of a pale 
blue colour, ornamented with white lines, and having a pale 
median band. 
Quite of a different colour and character from all of the 
above is that dwarf golden yellow Iris named I. Danfordise. 
Another veiy handsome species which remains to be noted, in 
full bloom at the foot of the same wall, is I. histrioides. 
