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Morina (Named after Louis Morin)

(named after Louis Morin, 1636-1715, a French botanist). SYN. Asaphes. ORD. Dipsaceae. A genus comprising about eight species of glabrous or softly pubescent, hardy or half-hardy, perennial herbs, with the habit of Carduus. They are natives of Central and Western Asia. Flowers crowded in whorls in the axils of the floral leaves; corolla pink, long, tubular, ringent. Leaves oblong, sinuated, dentately spinose, rarely quite entire. The species thrive best in a little shade, and when sheltered from high winds. A sandy loam is most suitable. Propagated by dividing the roots, as soon as the plants have done flowering; the divisions then become established before winter sets in. The young plants should be placed in permanent quarters, and shaded, with leafy branches, for a fortnight. The two species described below are probably the only ones introduced.

M. Coulteriana (Coulter's).* fl.-heads pale yellow, in terminal spikes; bracts connate into a broad cup, rigidly spinous. l. narrow, spine-margined. h. 6in. to 18in. Western Himalaya, 1884. Hardy. (B. M. 6734.) M. longifolia (long-leaved).* fl.-heads white whilst in bud, changing to a delicate pink, and ultimately becoming a lovely crimson, 1in. long, and 3/4in. across, disposed in crowded whorls in the axils of the upper leaves. June and July. l. about 1ft. long, 1 1/2in. wide, pinnatifid, with wavy margins, somewhat spinyciliated. Stem terete, not furrowed. h. 2ft. Nepaul, 1839. Hardy.(B. M. 4092; B. R. xxvi. 36.)