THE CYCLAMEN. 
The several species that constitute this genus are 
natives of the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, 
Southern Europe, Western Asia, and Northern Africa. 
rarely white. C. Europceum, a native of Switzerland 
is a summer-flowering species, blooming from June to 
September; or even later. It is by no means a free 
bloomer, but it is valuable as one of our most 
delightf ully-scented of all the Cyclamens. The 
flowers vary in color from a pale pink to- a 
deep carmine. C. Hederifolium is an autumn- 
flowering species, and the one found wild in 
England, but its native home is on the moun¬ 
tains of Switzerland, as well as in Italy, 
Greece and the Ionan Isles. There is a consid- 
able variety both in shape and hue of the 
foliage, also in the color of the flowers; the 
former being sometimes dark green and almost 
free from marbling, and at other times really 
beautiful with bright silvery bands and mark¬ 
ings. The flowers vary in color from pure 
white to the deepest rose. C. Persicum, the 
best-known of the species, stands at the head 
of the family, and is the one most generally 
cultivated. It is in fact the Cyclamen par 
excellence for fragrance, color, display, and 
beauty of foliage; and it is upon this species 
Natural Size, Cyclamen Blossom. 
It is also found growing wild in England. Al¬ 
though undoubtedly a naturalized plant, the 
seed having been originally earned from some 
garden, and thus it has established itself in a 
state of nature. The genus contains some of 
our most popular and desirable plants for the 
green-house, conservatory, or window garden,, 
for fall, winter or early spring flowering. 
They are all neat and dwarf in habit; all have 
foliage of pretty form, some of which are re¬ 
markable for their beautiful markings, and the 
flowers of all the species are beautiful, some of 
them remarkably so. 
The species under cultivation are: C. Coum, 
a native of Italy and Germany; this is one of 
the more common, its flowers are produced 
from January to March. Color, bright rosy 
red, with a white baud more or less distinct 
round the corona. Its leaves are always round, 
dark green on the upper surface, decided pur. 
pie on the reverse, without markings. It is 
very nearly hardy, and flowers most profusely 
in the open border during the early spring and 
summer. C. lberimm, a native of Asia, is 
very nearly related to the foregoing, its flowers 
are almost identical, and but for the differ 
ence in the leaf, the two might be easily con 
founded. The leaves are heart-shaped, rarely 
'round, always marbled on the upper surface 
with a lighter color. C. Vemum, as its name 
implies, is a spring-flowering species in its 
native home, Southern Europe; it flowers in March and 
April. The flowers of this species are very fragrant; 
color, bright rosy purple, occasionally light rose, and 
Cyclamen Persicum Giqamteum. 
the cultivator has spent hie most earnest devotion. 
Through his perseverance in selection, in growing from 
seeds saved from the best developed plants, those having 
