Chelone
(from chelone, a tortoise; the back of the upper lip of the corolla is compared to a tortoise). Turtlehead. ORD. Scrophularineae. Very handsome herbaceous plants, allied to Pentstemon. Flowers imbricately spiked, terminal; corolla ringent, ventricose; lower lip internally bearded; sterile stamens shorter than the others. Seeds winged. Leaves opposite. They are of very easy culture in almost any ordinary garden soil, although a rich, moderately light loam is the most satisfactory. Propagation is readily effected by dividing the plants, about August or September, depending upon the flowering; if this operation be performed in spring, the results are not always so satisfactory. They may also be increased by means of seeds and young cuttings, inserted in sandy soil, in a cold frame.
C. atropurpurea (dark purple). A synonym of Pentstemon campanulatus. C. barbata. See Pentstemon barbatus.
C. glabra (smooth). A glabrous variety of C. obligua. C. Lyoni (Lyon's).* fl. purple; spikes terminal, with the flowers clustered. July to September. l. petiolat, cordate-ovate, serrated. Plant glabrous, branched. h. 3ft. to 4ft. North Carolina, 1812. SYN. C. major. (B. M. 1864.) C. major (large). A synonym of C. Lyoni.
C. nemorosa (wood).* fl., corolla rosy-purple, ventricose; anthers woolly; peduncles three-flowered, downy. July. l. ovate, acuminated, serrated. Plant branched, glabrous. h. 1ft. Northwest America, 1827. (B. R. 1211.) C. obliqua (oblique).* fl. purple, in close, terminal spikes. Summer. l. petiolate, oblique, lanceolate, unequally serrated, very smooth. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Less vigorous than C. Lyoni. North America, 1752. SYN. C. purpurea. (B. R. 175.) The variety alba produces white flowers, and is very showy. C. purpurea (purple). A synonym of C. obliqua.