642 
THE GARDENING WORLD. 
• • • 
Notes on 
Our Illustrations. 
ON CENTRE 
Poppywort from Thibet (Meconopsis 
integrifolia). 
Many of our readers are acquainted with 
the Welsh Poppy, and no doubt those in 
Wales and the north of Scotland find that 
it succeeds there admirably. It is often 
grown in lowland gardens, but it is really a 
mountain plant delighting m a cool, moist 
atmosphere. Applying that to the new 
species recently introduced from South-west 
China and Thibet, they will have an idea 
that it requires a cool and moist situation, 
and those who attempt its cultivation in the 
lowlands should select a shady situation for 
it on the rockery, where it will have little 
exposure to sunshine, and that only during 
a portion of the day. When it has been pro¬ 
perly tried we believe it will be found more 
suitable for northern regions than the 
southern, although skilled cultivators in the 
south do succeed by placing it under suitable 
conditions such as those we mention. We 
believe any cool, moist soil will suit it, but 
cultivators in warm districts may use leaf- 
mould or peat in considerable quantity, 
which will serve to keep the soil moist and 
cool. 
Our illustration represents two small 
plants grown in proximity in the rockery at 
Kew—one of them having only a single flower. 
The largest plant we have seen carried five 
splendid blooms, about 5 in. to 6 in. in 
diameter when fully spread out, but for some 
time the blooms remain in a half-opened or 
globular form. The plant forms a rosette 
of leaves at the ground line, from the centre 
of which the flower stalk arises, bearing a 
number of leaves on the middle ; while one of 
the flowers is terminal the rest arise singly 
from the axils of these stem leaves and arch 
over in graceful fashion, as represented in 
our picture. When the plant bears five 
flowers it looks more evenly balanced with 
the flowers arching on all sides. 
The leaves of these plants are strap-shaped 
and covered with long, pale, rusty hairs, 
which give the plant a unique appearance 
even amongst the species of Meconopsis, 
several of which are more or less decorated 
m this way. The flowers are light yellow, 
not unlike the European Globe Flower very 
much magnified. The species of Meconopsis 
are distinguished from the true Poppies by 
having a style on the top of the ovary, and 
in this case it is very short and thick, with 
as many ridges as there are stigmas. We 
have noticed five to eight of these ridges 
which run down from the stigmatic rays, but 
possibly when the plant is well grown so as 
to be vigorous, this number may increase, 
but that, we think, is a fair average. 
Hitherto it has been raised from imported 
seeds. 
Golden Drop (Onosma echioides). 
When photographed in June the above 
plant was in full bloom and 6 in. to 9 in. 
nigh, but the racemes of blossoms elongated 
. considerably after that, as the flowering 
period is a pretty long one. The flowers are 
SHEET (pages 640 and 641). 
club-shaped, light yellow, and produced in 
succession much in the same way as the 
flowers on the stalks of Forget-me-hots, as it 
belongs to the same family. The largest 
leaves rise from the root, and are spatlmiate 
and coarsely hairy like many other plants 
belonging to this same family. Indeed, this 
species has been compared to the common 
Viper’s Bugloss (EcJnum). 
it is a native of South Europe, and was 
first introduced in 1683, but being a biennial 
in character it has no doubt several times 
been lost and reintroduced. It is well worthy 
of cultivation on the rockery on account of 
its distinct character, and being a lover of 
dry situations this method and treatment 
meets its requirements admirably. If the 
cultivator plants it in a sunny situation he 
will be able to save seeds and rear a suc¬ 
cession of plants. 
A Handsome Crustaceous Saxifrage 
(Saxifraga lingulata lantoscana). 
All of the Saxifrages might be grown on 
the rockery in some position or other, but 
the crustaceous species are specially adapted 
for this kind of culture ; indeed, they grow 
naturally upon rocks and mountains. This 
section is characterised by a dense rosette of 
firm or crustaceous leaves, 'and the variety 
lantoscana is distinct from the typical S. 
lingulata by its much longer leaves distinctly 
narrowed in the middle. Those who wish to 
see the foliage of this plant in the greatest 
perfection could not do better than rear single 
crowns in pots, giving a larger size pot until 
a 5-in. pot at least is reached. Under these 
conditions it takes some years to flower, but 
then it produces a magnificent spike of 
flowers 1 ft. long or more, arching and bear¬ 
ing a profusion of white flowers with a few 
red spikes towards the base. For pot work 
this might form a rival to the more popular 
Saxifraga Cotyledon pyramidalis. 
In the open air the rosettes form so many 
small offsets that all the parts of the plant 
are smaller, but nevertheless a patch on the 
rockery flowers freely eveiy year, as there are 
always some rosettes old enough to flower 
soon after the plant gets established. A rich 
and deep soil is no doubt necessary, but a 
considerable quantity of grit should be mixed 
with it, as such conduces to the welfare of 
the plant, especially in winter. 
The Japanese Skull-cap (Scutellaria indica 
japonica). 
Most of the Skull-caps are more or less 
pretty plants that may be used on the rock- 
work, but that under notice is jm’tieulaiTy 
handsome on account of its dwarf size and 
profusion of flowers. The plant is only 3 in. 
to 6 in. in height, and, as may be seen by the 
illustration, is covered with blossoms for 
more than half the length of the stems. 
These flowers are purple, with a darker blotch 
on the lip, marbled with white, and in the 
mass are very pretty. The leaves are kidney- 
shaped, wrinkled, of small size, and quite dis¬ 
tinct from those of any other Skull-cap we 
'have seen. 
August 12, 19oL 
The plant illustrated was grown in a pot 
in the Alpine house at Kew, but it also 
bloomed on the rockery a few days later, say 
about the last week of May. In the matter 
of soil any good garden material will answer 
provided it is friable, but fairly moist, as 
most of the Skull-caps delight in slightly 
moist situations. This beautiful form of the 
plant comes from Japan. We presume the 
typical form comes from India, while the 
plant is also represented in Java. Consider¬ 
ing its beauty it is quite surprising that so 
handsome a plant should be so scarce in 
British gardens. 
The Blue Mountain Daisy (Aster alpinus 
super hus). 
The tall growing and late blooming Asters 
are mostly spoken of as Michaelmas Daisies. 
The species under notice is altogether dif¬ 
ferent, flowering in May, June, and July on 
dwarf stems, usually about 6 in. to 9 in. 
high. The ordinary form is a native of 
Europe and northern Asia. The variety 
under notice has blue-purple flower heads, 
and is admirably adapted for planting on the 
rockery. Its cultivation is of the easiest, 
however, and any garden border of good soil 
will enable it to give a satisfactory account 
of itself. It should be planted in the front 
row of the border, but those who have the 
convenience of a rockery, however small, 
would find that- it would show itself off to 
best advantage when slightly elevated above 
the ordinary level of the ground. 
The Spikenard of the Ancients (c'ardos- 
tachys Jatamansi). 
The plant under notice is more familiar 
in the- perfumer’s shop in the dried state than 
in British gardens in the live state. It is a 
native of the Himalayas, and was known in 
this country in the dry state some hundreds 
of years ago, as John Gerard figured it in 
his “ Herbal ” in 1597. Dr. Boyle in more 
recent times believed that it was the Spike¬ 
nard of the Ancients. The live plant does 
not seem to have been introduced till 1878. 
The plant grows about 6 in. to 12 in. high, 
bearing dense clusters of pale rose-purple 
flowers. The leaves are chiefly produced in 
tufts about the base of the plant, and offer 
nothing special. Although the plant cannot 
be described as showy, it is certainly- interest¬ 
ing on account of the commercial perfume 
obtained from the roots. Pieces of the dried 
root placed in cabinets or in wardrobes give 
off a very agreeable perfume. 
The Siberian Edelweiss (Leontopodium 
sibiricum). 
The above plant bears a close resemblance 
to the European or Alpine Edelweiss, of 
which we hear so many stories. It flowers 
earlier, however, say about the third week 
of May. The* whole plant at that time is 
somewhat greener than its European rela¬ 
tive when in bloom, but even after then it 
continues to grow until the flowering stems 
are 12 in. or 15 in. in height, with the 
branches of the head loosely arranged around 
the central truss. All these branches in the 
early stages are compact, and form a mass 
2 in. to 3 in. across. In the matter of culti¬ 
vation the same conditions should be given 
it as to the common Edelweiss. A fairly dry- 
position on the rockery enables it to come 
through the winter safely and to bloom at 
the time stated. Fibrous loam with some 
grit in it and sand will meet its requirements 
in this respect. 
