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August (L lanceolate roughish somewhat)

l. lanceolate, roughish, somewhat amplexicaul; lower ones serrate in the middle. h. 2ft. North America, 1777. A very pretty species. A. spurius (spurious). fl.-heads purple, large, few; inner scales of involucre coloured. September. l. linear-lanceolate, amplexicaul, polished. Stem virgate, panicled. Branches racemose. h. 4ft. North America, 1789. SYN. A. rubricaule.

A. tardiflorus (late-flowering). fl.-heads blue, numerous. Autumn. l. sessile, serrated, smooth, spathulate-lanceolate, narrowed at base, and bent down towards each side. h. 2ft. North America, 1775.

A. Townshendi (Townshend's). Synonymous with A. Bigelovii. A. Tradescanti (Tradescant's).* fl.-heads white; involucre imbricated. August. l. lanceolate-sessile, serrated, smooth; branches virgate. Stem round, smooth. h. 3ft. North America, 1633. A. multiflorus is very much like this species, and, perhaps, a mere form thereof, with somewhat smaller flowers and more obovate-oblong leaves.

A. tripolium (Tripoli). Michaelmas Daisy. fl.-heads blue; disk yellow; scales of involucre lanceolate, membranous, obtuse, imbricated. August. l. linear-lanceolate, fleshy, obscurely three-nerved. Stem glabrous, corymbose. h. 2ft. Britain.

A. turbinellus (turbinate). fl.-heads delicate mauve, disposed in panicles; involucre top-shaped, scales imbricate. Summer and autumn. l. lanceolate, smooth, entire, with fringed margins, somewhat stem-clasping; those of the branchlets awl-shaped. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America. A very desirable species.

A. undulatus (undulated). fl.-heads pale blue. August. l. oblong-cordate, amplexicaul, entire; petioles winged. Stem panicled, hispid. Branchlets one-sided. h. 3ft. North America, 1699.

A. versicolor (various-coloured).* fl.-heads white, changing to purple; scales of involucre shorter than disk. August. l. sub-amplexicaul, broad-lanceolate, sub-serrate, smooth. Stem glabrous. h. 3ft. North America, 1790. The annuals (Callistephus chinensis), usually known as French, German, or China Asters, are very extensively grown, both for beds and pots, and their diversity and generally compact growth render them almost universal favourites. They require a rich loamy soil, and as the roots are produced near the surface, a mulching of rotten dung will be found most beneficial. Seeds may be raised in a cold frame in March or April, and, when the seedlings are large enough, they must be transplanted into beds from 9in. to 12in. apart each way. If it is desired to have them in pots, they may be removed thence with a good ball of earth adhering just before they commence flowering, liberally watered, and kept lightly shaded from the sun, until root action is resumed. Those kinds required for exhibition purposes should have several of the side shoots removed, so that the whole growing energy of the plant may be centralised into from five to seven flower-heads, by which means fine blossoms may be obtained. The dwarf kinds are most valuable for bedding and pots, as the taller kinds frequently require stakes for support. The following are the most important sections:

Betteridge's Prize. Very beautifully formed and brilliantly coloured varieties, unsurpassed for exhibition purposes. As this class has rather a straggling habit of growth, it is less suitable for bedding and borders than many of the others.

Boltze's Miniature Bouquet Pyramidal. Dwarf and elegant, in compact bouquets of six or eight; the truss of flower-heads springs directly from the ground, having only a few leaves at base. Colours very varied. h. 6in. to 8in. Crown.* Distinct. The central portion, or disk, of the head of flowers is pure white, surrounded by a broad margin of coloured ray florets, such as purple, violet, crimson, rose, &c. Flower-heads large, flat, freely produced. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft.

Dwarf Chrysanthemum-flowered.* In size of flower-heads and habit of growth, this surpasses all other dwarf varieties. The flowers are full, Chrysanthemum-shaped, produced in clusters, or bouquets, from ten to twenty in a truss, very delicate and beautiful in colour. h. 1ft. Dwarf Pyramidal or Dwarf Bouquet. A pretty little class, and extremely floriferous, each plant producing from twenty to fifty heads of blossom. Some of the colours are: Exquisite carmine with white points, white with blue or carmine points, white with salmon centre, &c. h. 1ft. Improved Imbricate. The best strain of pyramidal Asters with recurved florets; fine regular form of flowers, double to the centre, producing but few seeds. Colours very brilliant. h. 2ft.

Improved Rose. A handsome class, producing a branched head, displaying no less than fifty large double flower-heads, the outer florets finely imbricated, and filled up to the centre when quite open. The colours are of great brilliancy, and of many shades. h. 2ft.

Pompone Goliath.* Flower-heads globular, and florets very closely set. Valuable for bouquets, as the flowers remain intact for a considerable time. Pyramidal Hedgehog. Singular and unique. Stems upright, and branched; each branch terminated by a single flower-head, which is filled up with quill-like florets. Colours various. h. 1 1/2ft.

Pruffaut's Paeony Perfection.* Vigorous upright growers, having large, hemispherical-formed heads of flowers with incurved florets, 4in. across. The colours also are very varied. h. about 2ft.

Victoria.* One of the most popular classes of Asters grown; flower-heads very double, imbricate, globular, 4in. in diameter, from ten to twenty on a plant, of various shades. h. 1ft., with a pyramidal habit.

ASTERACANTHA (from aster, a star, and acantha, a spine; referring to the disposition of the spines). ORD. Acanthaceae. A handsome greenhouse herbaceous perennial, of easy culture in sandy loam. It should be grown in a sunny position, and be kept moderately dry, otherwise little but foliaceous growth will be produced; but, if thus treated, it flowers freely. Propagated by divisions in spring; or by seeds, sown in August.

A. longifolia (long-leaved). fl. yellow, in dense axillary fascicles. July. l. lanceolate, tapering to the base, narrow, sessile, serrately ciliated. Stem quadrangular. Plant rather hairy. h. 2ft. India, 1781. ASTILBE (from a, without, and stilbe, brilliancy; in allusion to the inconspicuous flowers of some of the species). ORD. Saxifrageae. Tall branching herbs, with triternate or biternate leaves, allied to Spiraea, from which they differ in having not more than three carpels, eight or ten stamens, and numerous albuminous seeds. They are all more or less graceful, and some indispensable, either when grown in isolated clumps, or intermingled with other herbaceous plants. They thrive well in almost any rich garden soil, preferring damp positions, and are easily propagated by division, which is best done in early spring. A japonica is grown very extensively for decorative purposes, its elegant spikes of pure white flowers rendering it especially valuable. The majority of the plants cultivated are imported, but they may be grown fairly well in this country in heavily manured soil. They should be potted as early as possible in the autumn, and plunged in ashes or fibre outside, when they will soon commence to root, after which they may be placed in heat, and forced as required, always giving an abundance of water. Indeed, the pots may be stood in pans of water, especially when the plants are well furnished with growth.

A. barbata (bearded). A synonym of A. japonica.

A. decandra (ten-stamened). fl. white, in spicate racemose panicles. May. l. biternate; leaflets cordate, deeply lobed and serated, glandular beneath, and on the petioles. h 2ft. to 3ft. North America, 1812. A. japonica (Japanese).* fl. small, pure white, in large branching racemose panicles. May. l. triternate or pinnate, serrated. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Japan. This is best grown in pots, as early frosts generally cut it down in the open air. SYNS. Spiraea barbata and japonica, also Hoteia and A. barbata. A. j. variegata (variegated).* l. prettily variegated with yellow; panicles much more dense than the type; indeed, it is far superior in that respect. A. rivularis (brook).* fl. yellowish-white, or reddish, in large panicled spikes. Late summer. l. biternate; leaflets ovate, doubly serrated, villous beneath and on the petioles. h. 3ft. Nepaul. A grand plant for the margins of lakes or damp woodlands.

A. rubra (red).* fl. rose, very numerous, in dense panicles. Late summer and autumn. l. biternate; leaflets oblique, cordated 1in. to 2in. long, with elongated, serrated points. h. 4ft. to India, 1851. A very pretty, but rare species; excellent for long-lower tropical gardening. A. Thunbergi (Thunberg's).* fl, small, white, very numerous, in erect, much branched, pyramidal panicles, with reddish and slightly downy stalks. May. l. unequally pinnate or bipinnate; leaflets broad, yellowish green, sharply toothed. h. 1 1/2ft. Japan, 1878. This pretty little sub-shrub is extensively propagated on the Continent for forcing purposes.

ASTRAGALUS (a name applied to a shrub by Greek writers). Milk Vetch. Including Phaca. ORD. Leguminosae. A very large genus of hardy herbs or sub-shrubs. Flowers in axillary clusters; standard larger than the wings. Leaves unequally pinnate. About one hundred species have been introduced in English gardens; many of these are lost to cultivation; the comparative few here described are still generally grown, and are good representative species. They are all of easy culture. The shrubby kinds grow well in any light dry soil, and are slowly increased by cuttings placed in a cold frame, or by seeds. The herbaceous perennials prefer a dry light soil, and may be increased by divisions or seeds; the latter mode is preferable, as many species are very liable to die if transplanted or divided, which is at best but a slow method. Seed should be sown in pots of sandy soil placed in a cold frame as soon as ripe, or very early in the spring, as they may lie a long time before germinating. The dwarfer species constitute admirable rockwork plants, and can be grown in pots containing a mixture of loam, peat, and sand. Seeds of the two annual species, A. Cicer and A. Glaux, merely requiro to be sown in the open border early in spring.

A. adsurgens (adsurgent).* fl. bluish purple; spikes oblong, pedunculate, longer than the leaves, densely packed. June. l. with eleven to twelve pairs of ovate-lanceolate acute leaflets; stipules acuminated, length of leaves. Plant ascending, smoothish. Siberia, 1818. A very handsome and rare perennial species.

A. aduncus (hooked). fl. rose purple, in oblong spikes; peduncles rather shorter than the leaves. June and July. l. with numerous pairs of roundish-ovate, smooth leaflets, sometimes downy. h. 6in. to 9in. Caucasus, 1819. Perennial.

A. alopecuroides (foxtail-like).* fl. yellow, disposed in thick dense ovate-oblong spikes, on short axillary peduncles. June. l. with numerous ovate-lanceolate, pubescent leaflets; stipules ovate-lanceolate, acuminated. Plant erect. h. 2ft. to 5ft. Siberia, 1737. One of the finest perennial species grown.

A. alpinus (alpine). fl. bluish-purple, sometimes whitish, drooping, disposed in racemes of about 1/2in. long. Summer. l. imparipinnate, with eight to twelve pairs of ovate or oblong leaflets. Britain. A very desirable, hairy, prostrate perennial.

A. arenarius (sand-loving).* fl. blue; peduncles few-flowered, rather shorter than the leaves. June. l. with linear-obtuse leaflets; stipules connate, opposite the leaves. Plant diffuse, tomentose from white adpressed down. h. 6in. Denmark, 1800. Perennial.

A. austriacus (Austrian).* fl. few; upper petal, or vexillum, blue, the rest purple; racemes pedunculate, longer than the leaves. May. l., leaflets glabrous, linear, truncately emarginate. Plant diffusely procumbent. South Europe, 1640. Perennial.

A. canadensis (Canadian). fl. yellow, disposed in spikes; peduncles about as long as the leaves. July. l. with ten to twelve pairs of elliptic-oblong, bluntish leaflets. Plant nearly erect, rather hairy. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America, 1732. Perennial.

A. Cicer (Vetch-like). fl. pale yellow, disposed in spike-like heads; peduncles longer than the leaves. July. l. with ten to thirteen pairs of elliptic-oblong mucronate leaflets. Plant diffusely procumbent. Europe, 1570. Annual.

A. dahuricus (Dahurian). fl. purple, in dense racemes, which are longer than the leaves. July. l., leaflets, seven to nine pairs, oblong, mucronate. Plant erect, pilose. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Dahuria to China, 1822. Perennial. A. dasyglottis (thick-tongued).* fl. purple, blue, and white mixed, in capitate spikes; peduncles a little longer than the leaves. June. l., leaflets eliptic-oblong, somewhat emarginate; stipules connate, opposite the leaves. h. 3in. to 4in. Plant diffuse. Siberia, 1818. A charming little alpine perennial. A. falcatus (hooked). fl. greenish yellow, in spikes; peduncles rather longer than the leaves. June. l. with sixteen to twenty pairs of elliptic-oblong, acute leaflets. Plant erect, rather hairy. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Siberia (in wet, grassy places). Perennial. SYN. A. virescens.

A. galegiformis (Galega-like).* fl. pale yellow, pendulous, racemose; peduncles longer than the leaves. June. l. with twelve or thirteen pairs of elliptic-oblong leaflets. Plant erect, glabrous. h. 3ft. to 5ft. Siberia, 1729. A showy perennial species.

A. Glaux (Milkwort). fl. purplish, in dense heads; peduncles longer than the leaves. June. l. with eight to thirteen pairs of small, oblong, acutish leaflets. Spain, 1596. Procumbent annual, clothed with whitish hair. A. glycyphyllos (sweet-leaved).* fl. sulphur coloured, in ovate-oblong spikes; peduncles shorter than the leaves. June. l. with four to seven pairs of oval, bluntish, smooth leaflets; stipules ovate-lanceolate, entire. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Britain. A perennial prostrate trailer.

A. hypoglottis (under-tongued).* fl. variegated with purplish, blue and white, disposed in roundish heads; peduncles longer than the leaves, ascending. June. l. with numerous little ovate, obtuse, dark green leaflets, somewhat emarginate; stipules connate, ovate. Stems prostrate, rather hairy. h. 3in. Britain, &c. Perennial trailer.

A. h. alba (white-flowered).* This resembles the type, except in the colour of the flowers.

A. leucophyllus (hoary-leaved).* fl. pale yellow, about 1/2in. long, in dense racemes; peduncles much longer than the leaves. July and August. l., leaflets in numerous pairs, broadly-linear, covered with soft, silky pubescence. h. 2ft. to 3ft. North America. Perennial.

A. maximus (largest).* fl. yellow; spike sessile, cylindrical, nearly terminal. June. l. with ovate-lanceolate, pubescent leaflets; stipules oblong-lanceolate. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Armenia. A very handsome, erect, perennial species.

A. monspessulanus (Montpelier).* fl. usually purplish, spicate; peduncles longer than the leaves. June. l., leaflets twenty-one to forty-one, ovate or lanceolate, outer ones rather the smaliest. Leaves hoary, and plant almost stemless when growing in dry exposed situations; but in rich earth or moist places the leaves are almost glabrous, and the stem becomes elongated. South Europe, 1710. This species is much appreciated, and well deserves a place in all collections. Evergreen trailer.

A. narbonensis (Narbonne). fl. yellow, disposed in somewhat globose spikes, on short axillary peduncles. June. l. with oblong-linear leaflets; stipules lanceolate. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Narbonne and Madrid, 1789. An erect hairy perennial.

A. odoratus (sweet-scented). fl. pale yellow, sweet-scented, disposed in spikes; peduncles same length as leaves. June. l. with eleven to fourteen pairs of oblong acute leaflets; stipules connate. Plant erect, rather ascending. h. 6in. Levant, 1820. Perennial.

A. onobrychioides (Onobrychis-like).* fl. beautiful purple, in capitate spikes on long peduncles. July. l. with eight to ten pairs of elliptic leaflets; stipules connate, opposite the leaves. Plant rather diffuse, shrubby at the base, clothed with adpressed hairs. h. 9in. to 12in. Iberia, Persia, &c., 1819. A very handsome perennial species.

A. Onobrychis (Onobrychis). fl. purple; spikes oblong-ovate, pedunculate, longer than the leaves. June. l. with seven to sixteen pairs of oblong leaflets. h. 1 1/2ft., or procumbent. Mountains Southern Europe, 1640. This is an elegant perennial, and ranks among the very best. The varieties, all white flowered, are: alpinus, major, microphyllus and moldavicus, but only the first-named is now in cultivation.

A. pannosus (woolly).* fl. rose-coloured, in compact globose heads, with peduncles shorter than the leaves. July. l. with four to nine pairs of ovate-lanceolate leaflets, thickly coated with long white woolly hairs. h. 6in. to 9in. Siberia. Perennial.

A. ponticus (Pontic). fl. yellow; spikes sessile, almost globose. July. l. oblong, smoothish; stipules lanceolate. Stem rather hairy. h. 2ft. Tauria, 1820. A very showy, erect, border perennial.

A. purpureus (purple). fl. purplish blue, disposed in capitate spikes; peduncles longer than the leaves. June. l., leaflets obovate, bidentate at the apex; stipules connate, opposite the leaves. Plant diffuse, procumbent, rather hairy. h. 3in. to 6in. Provence, 1820. Perennial.

A. sulcatus (furrowed).* fl. pale violet, but with a white keel, tipped with brown; racemes pedunculate, longer than the leaves. July. l. with linear-lanceolate leaflets. Plant erect, glabrous; stem furrowed. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Siberia, 1783. Perennial.

A. Tragacantha (great goat's thorn).* Gum Tragacanth. fl. pale violet, two to five together, axillary, sessile. June. l. with eight or nine pairs of linear hispid leaflets; young stipules connate, clothed with silky hairs; adult ones glabrous; petioles permanent, at length becoming hardened spines. h. 1 1/2ft. to 3ft. Levant, 1640. Evergreen shrub. Tragacanth, a partially soluble gum, was formerly supposed to be furnished by this plant. It is, however, now known that A. Tragacantha yields none. Several species from mountainous regions in Asia Minor, &c., furnish the gum.

A. vaginatus (sheathed-stipuled). fl. rosy-purple, with white-tipped wings; calyx rather inflated, covered with soft white and black hairs; spikes dense. Summer. l. impari-pinnate, with seven or eight pairs of elongated-oblong leaflets, both surfaces covered with short silvery hairs. h. 1ft. Siberia. Perennial.

A. vesicarius (bladdery). fl., upper petal purple, the wings yellow, and the keel white, tipped with yellow; calyx clothed with black adpressed down and long white spreading hairs; peduncles longer than the leaves. July. l. with five to seven pairs of elliptic leaflets. Plant diffusely procumbent, hoary from adpressed silky down. h. 6in. to 9in. France, 1737. Perennial trailer. A. vimineus (twiggy). fl., upper petal purplish rose, much longer than the pure white wings; calyx clothed with black hairs; spikes somewhat capitate, pedunculate, longer than the leaves. June. l. with four to six pairs of lanceolate acute leaflets, beset with adpressed hairs. h. 6in. to 1ft. Siberia, 1816. A handsome perennial.

A. virescens (greenish). Synonymous with A. falcata. A. vulpinus (fox).* fl. pale yellow; spikes nearly globose, on very short peduncles. June. l. with obovate, obtuse, emarginate, rather velvety leaflets. Plant erect; stem glabrous. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Caucasus, 1815. A handsome border perennial.

ASTRANTIA (from astron, a star, and anti, in composition signifying comparison; in reference to the appearance of the umbels of flowers). ORD. Umbelliferae. Ornamental, hardy, herbaceous perennials, natives of Europe and Caucasus. Universal umbels irregular, of few rays, surrounded by variable involucre; partial umbels regular, and containing many flowers, surrounded by many-leaved involucels. Radical leaves petiolate, palmately lobed; cauline ones few, sessile. Roots blackish. These are suited for borders, banks, and woodlands, growing well in any ordinary garden soil, but preferring a damp position. Easily increased by root divisions in autumn or spring. A. carniolica (Carniolan).* fl. white. May. l. of involucre twelve or thirteen, quite entire, white, with a green line running along the middle of each, tinged with red; radical ones palmate; lobes five to seven, oblong, acuminated, unequally serrated. h. 6in. to 12in. Carniola, 1812. A pretty species.

A. helleborifolia (Hellebore-leaved).* fl. (and involucre) pink, pedicellate. June. l. of involucre twelve or thirteen, ovate-lanceolate, exceeding the umbel a little, bristly; radical ones palmate; lobes three, ovate-lanceolate, unequally serrated. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Eastern Caucasus, 1804. SYN. A. maxima. A. major (greater).* fl. pinkish, pedicellate. May. l. of involucre fifteen to twenty, linear-lanceolate, quite entire, hardly longer than the umbel; radical ones palmate; lobes five, ovate-lanceolate, acute, rather trifid, toothed. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Europe, 1596. Very distinct and ornamental. A. maxima (greatest). Synonymous with A. helleborifolia.