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Summer Pruning of Shrubs
It has been already remarked that if Shrubs in a mixed Shrubbery are to be kept within bounds, and each individual prevented from overgrowing its neighbour, constant attention in the matter of pruning is necessary throughout the summer, or at least during the growing season. Summer pruning of Shrubs is, unfortunately, too sadly neglected, when so many things are providing employment, but its advantages are none the less important, as, where it can be attended to, the results show. Shrubs usually flower on the wood made the previous year, but not always; sometimes, the blossoms appear from midsummer until autumn on the young shoots. Some knowledge of the habits and mode of flowering which the various kinds assume is therefore necessary, in order that pruning may be carried out at the proper time, and in the best manner. For instance, if a Shrub flowers naturally on wood of the previous year, and these growths are cut away in the autumn, or early the following spring, the embryo blossoms must be, as a matter of course, destroyed. Deutzias, Forsythias, Lilacs, the species of Philadelphus, Weigelas, and Viburnums, are examples of Shrubs such as those to which reference is made. The time to prune these, and many others of like habit, is in summer, immediately the flowers drop-that is, presuming it is attempted at all: some gardeners prefer letting such subjects grow at will, but this is scarcely allowable in the mixed Shrubbery. If the old shoots are removed as soon as the flowering is over, others will proceed from where these have been detached, and develop for the succeeding year, and the plant will not be materially enlarged in comparison with an unpruned specimen. Rhododendrons and hardy Azaleas, if they need pruning or cutting back, should receive it at a similar period-namely, as soon as the flowers fade. Many ornamental evergreen Shrubs, grown principally for their foliage, may frequently be improved by summer pruning, carried out more or less extensively, according to the position the plants occupy, and the purpose for which they are grown. All Shrub pruning and cutting should be executed, whenever possible, with a knife, or one of the different instruments procurable for the purpose; the work may then be performed without cutting the foliage, or otherwise injuring the branches that are left. Clipping with shears is most objectionable, excepting when the Shrubs are planted as a hedge, a purpose for which Box, Holly, Privet, and Yew, are extensively employed.
SIBTHORPIA (named after John Sibthorp, 1758-1796, Professor of Botany at Oxford, and the originator of "Flora Graeca"). SYN. Disandra. Including Hornemannia. ORD. Scrophularineae. A genus consisting of half-a-dozen species of greenhouse or hardy, prostrate, hairy herbs, often rooting at the nodes; they are native of Western Europe, tropical and North-western Africa, Nepaul, and South America. Flowers yellow, yellowish-pink, or red, on axillary, solitary or fascicled pedicels; calyx campanulate, four to eight-cleft (often five-cleft); corolla tube short, sub-rotate; lobes of limb as many as, or one more than, the calyx lobes, spreading; stamens as many as, or one less than, the corolla lobes. Leaves alternate or fascicled, petiolate, orbicular-reniform and deeply crenate or incised-toothed. S. europaea (Cornish Moneywort, Pennyleaf, or Penny-wort), comprised in the British Flora, is more curious than beautiful; but the variegated form is a pretty plant, well worth cultivating. The latter requires a light, well-drained soil, and should be grown in a cold frame or cool greenhouse, under a glass. Only one species-S. peregrina-calls for description here. It is a small, trailing, hairy, greenhouse perennial. When raised, its pendent branches and little, yellow flowers assume a very pretty appearrance. It will succeed in any light, rich soil. Propagation may be effected by divisions or by cuttings, with or without a glass, in any shady situation.
S. peregrina (foreign). fl. yellow, four to five lines in diameter, five to eight-parted; stamens slightly shorter than the corolla; peduncles often fascicled, 2in. long. June l. much crenated. Madeira, 1771. (B. M. 218, under name of Disandra prostrata.) SIDA (an old Greek name, used by Theophrastus for the Water-Lily). Indian Mallow. ORD. Malvaceae. A genus comprising about eighty species of stove, greenhouse, or hardy herbs, sub-shrubs or shrubs; about eight inhabit the warmer parts of Africa and Asia, thirteen are indigenous to Australia, and the rest are American. Flowers various-coloured and sometimes showy, sessile or pedunculate, solitary or glomerate, axillary or disposed in terminal heads, spikes, or racemes; calyx five-toothed or five-cleft; petals five, hypogynous; staminal column divided into numerous filaments at the apex; bracteoles absent, or distant from the calyx. Leaves alternate. Only three species call for description here. They thrive in any rich soil. S. Napaea may be increased by seeds; and the others by cuttings, inserted in sand, under a glass, in heat. Many plants, formerly included here, are now classed under Abutilon. S. inaequalis (oblique-leaved).* fl. on lateral peduncles about 2in. long; calyx segments ovate, acute, ferruginous, pubescent; corolla white, 2in. across when fully expanded, the petals clawed, densely glandular-pubescent outside. May. l. 4in. to 7in. long, slightly undulated, harshly pubescent, cordate-ovate, unequal at base, acuminate; petioles 1in. to 2in. long. h. 7ft. Brazil, 1829. Stove shrub. (B. M. 3436.) S. Napaea (Napaea).* fl. white, large, disposed in umbellate corymbs; carpels ten, pointed. Summer. l. five-cleft; lobes oblong, pointed, toothed. h. 4ft. to 10ft. North America. A tall, smooth, hardy, herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 2913.) S. sessiliflora (sessile-flowered). fl. yellow, small, somewhat glomerate, sessile, axillary and terminal; corolla scarcely twice the length of the calyx. August to November. l. cordate, acute, serrated. h. 3ft. South America, 1827. Stove sub-shrub. (B. M. 2857.) SIDALCEA (from Sida, and Alkea, an ancient Greek name, used by Dioscorides for some Malva; alluding to the appearance and alliances of the plants). ORD. Malvaceae. A genus comprising eight species of hardy, mostly perennial herbs, with the habit of Malva or Althaea, natives of Western North America. Flowers shortly pedicellate or sessile, disposed in terminal racemes or spikes; calyx five-cleft; petals rose-purple or white; staminal column duplex at apex. Leaves mostly lobed or parted. S. candida and S. malvaeflora, perhaps the only species in cultivation, require culture similar to Malva (which see). S. candida (white). fl. white, in terminal racemes, freely produced. Summer. l. roundish, seven-lobed, glossy, long-stalked. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Colorado, 1882.
S. malvaeflora (Mallow-flowered). fl., corolla lilac; racemes many-flowered; pedicels twice as long as the calyx. Summer. l., radical ones orbicular, loosely five to nine-lobed or incised-crenate; primary ones sub-truncate at base; cauline ones profoundly seven to nine-cleft; segments trilobed, toothed at apex, the uppermost ones entire. Stem twiggy, slender. h. 1 1/2ft. Texas, 1838. (B. R. 1036, under name of Sida malvaeflora.) SYN. Callirhoe spicata (R. G. 737.) SIDERITIS (an old Greek name, used by Dioscorides for several plants, and derived from sideros, iron; so named on account of a supposed property of healing flesh-wounds inflicted by iron). Ironwort. SYNS. Burgs-dorffia, Hesiodia, Marrubiastrum. ORD. Labiatae. A genus comprising about forty-five species of hardy or half-hardy, often woolly or softly pilose herbs, sub-shrubs, or shrubs, natives of the Mediterranean region and the Canary Islands, numerous in the Orient. Flowers often yellowish, small; calyx tubular, with five erect, usually somewhat spiny teeth; corolla tube included; limb bilabiate, the upper lip entire, emarginate, or bifid, the lower one trifid, its middle lobe much the largest; stamens four; whorls six to many-flowered, axillary or interruptedly or densely spicate. Nutlets ovoid, smooth. Leaves entire or toothed; floral ones reduced to bracts, or the lower cauline ones conformed. The species (a representative selection of which is given below) prefer a dry, sandy or chalky soil. Propagation may be effected by seeds, by cuttings, or by divisions. All have yellowish flowers, produced in summer.
S. canariensis (Canary Islands). fl., corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx teeth, the upper lip emarginately bifid, the lower spreading; whorls twenty to thirty-flowered, sub-globose; racemes simple. l. ovate, crenate, cordate at base, 2in. to 4in. long, thick, wrinkled, velvety-woolly. h. several feet. Teneriffe, 1869. Greenhouse shrub. (Ref. B. 160.) S. candicans (whitish). fl. sub-sessile; corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx; whorls usually ten-flowered, the lower ones distant; racemes simple. l. ovate, slightly crenate, truncately cordate at base, thick. h. 3ft. Teneriffe, 1714. Habit of S. canariensis, but wholly clothed with white wool. Greenhouse shrub. S. incana (hoary). fl., calyx white-woolly; whorls distant, about six-flowered. l. sessile, oblong-linear, obtuse, entire, 1/2in. to 1 1/2in. long, white-woolly; upper ones small, remote. Branches white-woolly or tomentose. h. 1ft. Spain, 1752. Half-hardy sub-shrub. S. perfoliata (perfoliate-leaved). fl. sessile; corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx teeth; whorls all distinct, rather distant. l. half-amplexicaul, ovate-oblong or lanceolate, softly villous, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long; floral ones broad, spreading. Branches erect, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. high. South Europe, 1731. Half-hardy sub-shrub.
S. scordioides (Scordium-like). fl., corolla yellowish, the upper lip paler or white, slightly exceeding the calyx teeth; whorls interruptedly or densely spicate, spikes 1in. to 3in. long. l. ovate, oblong, or oblong-linear, narrowed at base, incised-toothed; floral ones very broad, spiny-toothed. h. 1ft. South Europe, 1597. Hardy sub-shrub.
S. s. alpina (alpine). fl. in densely or somewhat interruptedly spicate whorls. l. oblong-ovate, few-toothed, cano-villous or at length glabrous. Branches short, decumbent. Pyrenees, 1827.
S. s. angustifolia (narrow-leaved). l. oblong-linear, almost glabrous. Pyrenees, 1597.
S. s. elongata (elongated). fl. in interruptedly or rarely densely spicate whorls. l. oblong or oblong-lanceolate, incised-toothed, nearly glabrous. Branches elongated, ascending or erect. Spain, 1822. S. taurica (Taurian). fl., corolla slightly larger than the calyx. l. thick, oblong-lanceolate or spathulate, narrowed at base, the lower ones crenulate, densely white-woolly. h. 1 1/2ft. Tauria, 1822. Hardy sub-shrub. SIDEROXYLON (from sideros, iron, and xylon, wood; alluding to the very hard wood furnished by the various species). SYNS. Achras and Sapota (as far as the Old World species are concerned), Robertsia. ORD. Sapotaceae. A genus comprising nearly sixty species of stove or greenhouse, glabrous or pubescent trees or shrubs; they are broadly dispersed through the tropics, a few are found in the extra-tropical regions-South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand-and one in Madeira. Flowers usually small, sessile or pedicellate, fascicled at the nodes or axillary, five-parted; calyx segments closely imbricated; corolla broad or tubular-campanulate. Berries ovoid or globose. Leaves coriaceous, scattered. The fruits of S. dulcificum have a very sweet taste, and are known, with others, in West Africa, under the name of Miraculous Berry. Several of the species have been introduced, but they are of little or no value from a garden standpoint.
SIEBERA (so called in honour of F. W. Sieber, of Prague, 1785-1844, a botanist who travelled in the East). SYN. Trachymene (of De Candolle). ORD. Umbelliferae. A genus comprising fourteen species of green-house, rigid herbs with a perennial (almost woody) stock and virgate branches, or Heath-like shrubs, glabrous or slightly glandular-pubescent, all natives of Australia. Flowers white, small; calyx teeth small, but usually conspicuous; petals entire; involucral bracts small; umbels compound or rarely simple, terminal. Leaves all entire, or the lower ones divided or all reduced to small scales, without stipules. The under-mentioned species is, perhaps, the only representative of the genus which has been introduced to English gardens, and is probably not now in cultivation. For culture, see Trachymene. S. Billardieri lanceolata (Billardiere's, lanceolate-leaved). fl., involucral bracts linear; umbels compound, sessile or peduncled. l. lanceolate, acute, narrowed at the base, mostly above 1/2in. long. 1829. A shrub, either low and diffuse or erect and attaining a height of 2ft. to 3ft. (B. M. 3334, under name of Trachymene lanceolata.) SIEGESBECKIA (named in honour of John George Siegesbeck, M.D., a German botanist). ORD. Compositae, A genus consisting of only a couple of species of hardy, usually annual herbs; one (including several so-called species propounded by various authors) is broadly dispersed over tropical and sub-tropical regions; the other is a native of Peru. Flower-heads yellow or white, small, paniculate, sub-radiate; involucral bracts few, herbaceous; receptacle small; achenes glabrous. Leaves opposite, often broad, toothed. Only S. orientalis calls for description here. Seeds should be sown on a hotbed, in spring, and the seedlings, when strong enough, planted in the open border, at the end of May.
S. orientalis (Eastern). fl.-heads yellow; outer involucral scales three or four times longer than the inner ones. August. l. ovate-triangular, cuneate at base, acuminate at apex, deeply toothed. h. 2ft. Tropics, widely dispersed, 1824. (B. R. 1061; S. B. F. G. 203, under name of S. droseroides.) SIGMATOSTALYX (from sigma, sigmatos, S-shaped, and stalix, a stake). ORD. Orchideae. A genus comprising about seven species of dwarf, stove Orchids, natives of tropical America. Flowers mediocre or rather small, shortly pedicellate, scattered, racemose; claw of the lip long, two-keeled; peduncles axillary under the one-leaved pseudo-bulbs. Few of the species are yet in cultivation. For culture, see Oncidium.
S. malleifera (hammer-bearing). fl. yellow, brown-spotted, developed at distant periods; sepals and petals ligulate-triangular, acute; lip three-parted, the divisions linear, emarginate; callus hammer-like; raceme slender. l. light green, cuneate-ligulate, 5in. long, 1/2in. broad. Pseudo-bulbs dark brown, oblong, 1 1/2in. long, 1/2in. broad. New Grenada, 1883.
S. radicans (rooting). fl. yellow, greenish, and violet-purple, in an elongated raceme; sepals and petals cuneate-oblong, acute; lamina of the lip transversely sagittate, one to three-lobulate; calli in one or two series. l. cuneate, linear-ligulate, acute, twin. Pseudo-bulbs oblong-ligulate. Rhizome radicant. Brazil.
SILENE (said to be derived from sialon, saliva; alluding to the viscid exudation on the stems and calyces of many of the species; the English name Catchfly alludes to the same peculiarity). Campion; Catchfly. ORD. Caryophylleae. A very large genus (400 have been described as species, but, according to Bentham and Hooker, few more than 200 are entitled to specific rank) of greenhouse or hardy, erect, tufted, decumbent, or diffuse-climbing, annual, biennial, or perennial herbs; they are mostly natives of South Europe, North Africa, and extra-tropical Asia, about a dozen are South African, scarcely eighteen are found in North America, and eight are included in the British Flora. Flowers solitary or variously cymose, often in unilateral spikes, forming a terminal thyrse or panicle; calyx variously tubular, five-toothed or five-cleft, usually ten-nerved; petals five, with a narrow claw and an entire, bifid, or rarely laciniate lamina, often having two scales at base; stamens ten; disk usually columnar. Leaves opposite, entire. Amongst Silenes there are a few beautiful subjects for planting on rockwork, and in the open border, and none are difficult to cultivate. They succeed in almost any light, loamy soil, and may be readily propagated by one or more of the following methods-seeds, cuttings, or divisions. S. pendula, and its compact variety, are plants grown extensively for spring flower gardening, a purpose for which they are admirably adapted. The seed should be sown early in the previous autumn. The species best-known to cultivation are described below. All are hardy, except where otherwise indicated.
S. acaulis (stemless).* Cushion Pink; Moss Campion, fl. pink, rarely white, 1/2in. in diameter; calyx tubular, with obtuse teeth; petals notched. June to August. l. 1/4in. to 1/2in. long, linear-subulate, close-set, channelled above, keeled below, ciliated. h. 2in. Europe (Britain), &c. A densely-tufted perennial. (A. F. P. 79; L. B. C. 568; Sy. En. B. 205.) alba is a white-flowered form.
S. alpestris (alpine).* fl. white, shining, rather large, panicled; calyx campanulately-clavate; petals with a four-toothed border and two-parted appendages. May to July. l. almost all radical, lanceolate, rather blunt. Stem simple, few-leaved. h. 6in. Austrian Alps, 1774. Perennial. (S. B. F. G. 111.) S. anglica (English). fl. in leafy, racemose cymes; calyx 1/2in. long, membranous, with pubescent ribs, the teeth setaceous; petals and scales small, entire or slightly bifid. June to October. l. variable; lower ones spathulate. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Europe (Britain), &c. An erect or diffusely-branched annual. S. gallica is a form with white or pink flowers and bifid petals; S. quinque-vulnera, another variety, has entire, white petals with a red spot. (Sy. En. B. 202.) S. Armeria (Armeria). Sweetwilliam Catchfly. fl. pink, in corymbose panicles; calyx long, clavate; petals obcordate, crowned. July to September. l. ovate-lanceolate, rather cordate at base. Stem branched. h. 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. France and Switzerland (naturalised in Britain). A smooth annual. (Sy. En. B. 204.) S. Atocion (Atocion).* fl. pink, in fastigiate, trichotomous panicles; calyx long, clavate; petals obcordate, obtuse, with an acute tooth on each side at the base, crowned by two protuberances. June and July. l. roundish-obovate; lower ones on long footstalks; uppermost ones sessile. h. 6in. to 12in. Stem branched, pubescent. Levant, 1781. Annual.
S. chloraefolia (Chlora-leaved). fl. white, turning reddish as they fade, large, in a terminal panicle; calyx long, striped; petals cloven half-way down, with a two-lobed crest. August and September. l. elliptical, pointed; upper ones rather cordate. Stems branched. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Armenia, 1796. A smooth perennial. (B. M. 807; B. R. 1989; S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 263.) S. compacta (compact). fl. pink, crowded into dense corymbs; calyx very long, clavate; petals oboval, entire, crowned; bracts narrow, shorter than the pedicels. July. l. ovate-cordate, sessile; two large ones, like an involucre, near the corymb, appearing as if they were connate. Stem erect, branched. h. 1 1/2ft. Russia, 1823. A glabrous, glaucous biennial.(L. B. C. 1638; S. B. F. G. 64.) S. Elizabethae (Elizabethan).* fl. 1 1/2in. in diameter; calyx margined with purple; petals bright rose-colour, the claws white below, the blade cuneate-flabellate, emarginate; panicle terminal, dichotomous. July. l. lanceolate, acute, spreading; lower ones 2in. to 3in. long, becoming gradually smaller upwards. Stems tufted, erect or ascending, and, as well as the leaves, viscid-pubescent. h. 9in. or more. Italy, 1863. Perennial. (B. M. 5400; R. G. 1009, 2.) S. fimbriata (fringed-petaled). fl. white, in large, spreading panicles; calyx greatly inflated, with broad teeth; petals fringed, incurved after flowering. May to August. l. large, ovate-lanceolate, undulated, on long footstalks. h. 2ft. to 4ft. Caucasus, 1803. A pubescent perennial. (B. M. 908.) S. gallica (French). A variety of S. anglica.
S. Hookeri (Hooker's).* fl. 2in. to 2 1/2in. in diameter, solitary in the axils, or sometimes obscurely cymose; calyx 1in. long; petals pale pink, 2in. long, the lobes very variable, narrow or broad, equal, or the outer ones smaller or reduced to teeth, the two parallel white ridges on the claw terminating in white teeth at the blade. May. l. 2in. to 3in. long; lower ones elliptic-spathulate, narrowed into long petioles; the rest elliptic-lanceolate, acute or acuminate; all pubescent. Stems many, decumbent. California, 1873. Perennial. (B. M. 6051; F. d. S. 2093.) S. inflata (swollen). Bladder Campion or Catchfly; Cow Bell; White Ben. fl. white, 3/4in. in diameter, drooping; petals deeply cloven; panicle many-flowered. June to August. fr., capsule globose. l. 1in. to 3in. long, variable, ovate, obovate, or oblong. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Europe (Britain), &c. A branched, glaucous, glabrous, or downy perennial. This species may be used as a substitute for asparagus or green peas, the young shoots having the flavour of both. (Sy. En. B. 199.) puberula is a rarer form, with downy leaves. S. lacera (torn-petaled). fl. white; calyx much inflated; petals jagged, with the appendages two-parted. May to August. l. ovate-lanceolate, undulated, on long footstalks. Caucasus, 1818. A procumbent, hispid biennial. (B. M. 2255.) S. laciniata (jagged-petaled). fl. crimson, with a white, two-parted crest, very large, terminal, rather drooping; calyx cylindrically ventricose; petals somewhat four-cleft; peduncles one-flowered. June and July. l. large, lanceolate, acute. Stem erect, branched. h. 3ft. to 4ft. Mexico and California, 1823. A half-hardy, pubescent perennial. (B. R. 1444; P. M. B. 267.) S. livida (livid). fl. livid-green on the under surface, white above, panicled, drooping to one side; petals two-cleft, crowned. June and July. l. oblong-lanceolate. Stem flexuous, infracted. h. 1ft. Carniola, 1816. A pubescent perennial.
S. maritima (maritime).* fl. white; petals shortly cleft, the segments broad, with two scales at the base. June to August. Europe (Britain). A diffuse perennial. Otherwise resembling S. inflata. (Sy. En. B. 200.) flore-pleno is a garden form, with double flowers.
S. noctiflora (night-flowering). fl. erect, few; calyx narrow, 1in. long; petals rosy within, yellow outside, two-cleft. July and August. l. 3in. to 4in. long, oblong-lanceolate, acute, the lower ones petioled. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Europe (Britain), &c. An erect, simple or dichotomous, softly pubescent annual, viscid above. The flowers open at night, and are very fragrant. (Sy. En. B. 209.) S. nutans (nodding). Nottingham Catchfly. fl. white or pink, in panicled or sub-racemose cymes, drooping, fragrant at night; calyx purple-nerve, with acute teeth; petals two-parted, the segments diverging. May to July. l., radical ones oblong-lanceolate, 2in. to 5in. long, tufted, petioled; cauline ones small, narrow, sessile. Stem viscid above. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Europe (Britain), &c. A pubescent perennial, with a woody rootstock. (Sy. En. B. 207.) SYN. S. paradoxa.
S. ornata (ornamented). fl. dark purple, panicled; calyx cylindrical, with alternate stripes and veins; petals two-parted, with broad, crowned lobes. May to September. l. lanceolate, rather blunt. Stems erect, branched. h. 2ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1775. A pubescent, greenhouse biennial. (B. M. 382.) S. paradoxa (paradoxical). A synonym of S. nutans.
S. pendula (pendulous-flowered).* fl. flesh-coloured, axillary, pendulous; calyx inflated; petals bifid, crowned. May to August. l. ovate-lanceolate. Italy, &c., 1731. A pubescent, branched, trailing annual. (B. M. 114.) S. p. compacta (compact).* A very dwarf, compact variety, forming dense cushions, 2in. to 3in. high and 9in. to 12in. in diameter, entirely covered with bright pink flowers. This is a charming plant, extensively used for spring bedding. (F. M. n. s. 84.) S. pennsylvanica (Pennsylvanian).* American Wild Pink. fl. pink, clustered, short-stalked; calyx club-shaped; petals cuneiform, slightly notched and erose. April to June. l., radical ones narrowly spathulate, nearly glabrous, tapering into hairy petioles; cauline ones two or three pairs, lanceolate. Stems 4in. to 8in. high. North America, 1806. A pubescent perennial. (B. R. 247; L. B. C. 41.) S. picta (painted). fl. pink, loosely panicled; calyx clavate, striped with red; petals reticulated with red nerves and veins. June to August. l., lower ones obovate-spathulate; upper ones linear, acute. Stems much-branched, scarcely pubescent. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Asia Minor and Syria, 1817. A beautiful, Rush-like annual. (S. B. F. G. 92.) S. quinquevulnera (five-spotted). A variety of S. anglica. S. regia. Royal Catchfly. fl. deep scarlet, numerous, short-stalked, in clusters, forming a strict panicle; petals spathulate-lanceolate, mostly undivided. July. l. rather thick, ovate-lanceolate, acute. Stem roughish, erect, 3ft. to 4ft. high. Southern United States, 1811. A pubescent perennial. (B. M. 1724; S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 313.) S. Saxifraga (Saxifrage).* fl. terminal, solitary, rarely axillary; calyx clavate; petals yellowish on the upper surface, reddish-brown beneath; peduncles very long. June to August. l. linear, acute. h. 3in. to 6in. South Europe, &c., 1640. A smooth, rather viscid, tufted perennial. (L. B. C. 454.) S. Schafta (Schafta).* fl. purple, erect; calyx more than 1in. long, clavate; petals cuneate, denticulate; peduncles bearing one or two flowers. June to October. l. obovate, acute. Stems many, very simple, ascending; root woody. h. not more than 6in. Persia, 1844. A beautiful little perennial; the branches gradually become covered with blossoms. (B. R. 1846, 20; J. H. S. i. 69.) S. speciosa (showy). fl. scarlet, axillary or terminal, paniculate; calyx elongated-tubular, villous; petals five, oblong, spreading, four-parted, the middle segments much longer, the lateral ones reduced to teeth. June. l. opposite, sessile, lanceolate, somewhat obtuse. h. 1ft. 1843. A villous, greenhouse perennial; probably a hybrid. (F. d. S. ii. 8; P. M. B. x. 219.) S. supina (supine). fl. white, on short, alternate pedicels; calyx long, cylindrically clavate, tomentose; petals with long claws, bifid, crowned. June to August. l. linear, acute. Stems woody, procumbent, branched. Caucasus, 1804. A tufted, clammy-pubescent perennial. (B. M. 1997.) S. vespertina (evening). fl. rose-coloured, in secund racemes; calyx bladdery-clavate; petals two-parted, the lobes obtuse. June and July. l. spathulate, acute, on ciliated petioles. Stems branched, diffuse or decumbent. h. 1ft. Greece, &c., 1796. A beautiful, pubescent annual. (B. M. 677; S. B. F. G. 58; S. F. G. 409.) S. virginica (Virginian).* Fire Pink. fl. deep crimson, few, and loosely cymose, peduncled; calyx oblong-cylindrical, soon obconical; petals oblong, two-cleft. June to August. l. thin, spathulate, or the upper ones oblong-lanceolate. Stems slender, 1ft. to 2ft. high. North America, 1783. A pubescent perennial. (B. M. 3342; R. G. 1116.)