Page:Favourite flowers of garden and greenhouse-Vol 1.djvu/54

 Rh 34 FLOWERS OF GARDEN AND GREENHOUSE perennial herbs, with much-divided leaves; petal-like sepals, five to eight; and from five to sixteen red or yellow petals: there are many carpels (achenes), each with a solitary ovule. One species, A. aid u m natid, the Pheasant's-eye, is naturalised in parts of Britain, and this and several other species are grown in gardens. A. aestivalis (summer) is an erect annual (1 foot), with deep crimson or orange flowers an inch across, with black spot at base of petals ; June. A. autumnalis (autumn) is of similar height, with branched stems, and globose blood-red flowers, with black centre; May to September. A. pyrenaica (Pyrenees), 1 foot; flowers yellow, almost stalkless; July. A. vemalis (spring), 9 to 12 inches ; flowers yellow (2 inches diameter), with ten or twelve slightly toothed petals; March. The first three species are annuals, the last is a perennial, suitable for the rock-garden, and requiring rich, sandy loam and undisturbed occupation. Helleborus (the old Greek name) contains ten species of coarse perennial herbs, natives of Europe and Asia. They have thick root- stocks and handsome palmate leaves, five petal-like sepals, small, tubular petals, and many stamens. Several species have been much cultivated, notably H. niger (black), the Christmas Hose, with large white or pinkish flowers, which appears between December and March; H. olympicas (Olympian), with many rosy or purplish flowers, appearing in early spring. There are a number of hybrids in cultivation, the result of crossing various species little known in gardens. They thrive well in most garden soils, but the best results are attained from rich, moist, but well-drained loam. They are very impatient of disturbance at the root. H. niger is an excellent plant for the wild garden. It is also a good pot-plant, if allowed plenty of root-room, good soil, a position out of doors during summer, and in the cold frame during winter. All the Hellebores thrive under deciduous trees. They should be somewhat shaded, and before the buds open they should be covered with a hand- glass to preserve the purity of the petals, which are easily soiled. If cut just as they begin to open, the buds will expand in full beauty when placed in water indoors. Propagation is chiefly effected by root-divisioit 

 WATER-LILIES Natural Order Nymph^acejs. Genus Nymphcea Nymphs a (classical, the Greeks having dedicated these plants to the water-nymphs). A genus of handsome aquatics, with fleshy or tuberous