me is, perhaps, beyond that of any
of the others, more generally descriptive of all the following kinds:
_P. divaricata_, _P. glaberrima_, _P. Nelsoni_ (white flowers), _P.
reflexa_, _P. oculata_, _P. setacea_, _P. s. atropurpurea_, _P. s.
violacaea_, _P. subulata_, _P. prostrata_. These differ but slightly from
one another, so little, indeed, that many discard the distinctions;
still, they do exist, and may be clearly seen when grown close together
in collections. The flowers differ in depth of colour; the leaves of
some are more recurved, crossed, twisted, shining, or pointed, also
broader and longer; the stems likewise differ; herein the distinctions
are seen, probably, more than in either flowers or leaves. Sometimes
they are, in the different species, long or short, leafy, branched,
dense, arched, and divaricate, but, although at any time when their
fresh foliage is upon them, and when they are so close together that the
eye can take them all in at a glance, their distinctions are fairly
clear, autumn is the time to see them in their most definite and
beautiful form. Like many other North American plants, they have lovely
autumnal tints, then their forms have rich glistening colours, and they
are seen to not only differ considerably, but, perhaps, to more
advantage than when in flower; but let me add at once that I have only
proved these plants to take such rich autumnal colours when they have
been grown so as to rest on stones, which not only keep them from excess
of moisture, from worm casts, &c., but secure for them a healthy
circulation of air under their dense foliage. From the above, then, it
will be seen that a general description of _P. frondosa_ will apply to
the other species and varieties mentioned.

The flowers are lilac-rose; calyx, tubular; corolla of five petals,
narrow and notched; leaves, awl-shaped, short, bent, and opposite;
stems, branched, dense and trailing.

The dwarf Phloxes are pre-eminently rock plants, as which they thrive
well; when raised from the ground level, so as to be nearly in the line
of sight, they are very effective. They should be so planted that they
can fall over the stones, like the one from which the illustration (Fig.
74) was drawn. For at least a fortnight the plants are literally covered
with flowers, and at all times they form neat rock plants, though in
winter they have the appearance of short withered grass; even then the
stems are full of health, and in early sprin