. 
Tee Tas, 7049. 
DELPHIN IUM Zari. 
Native of Khorasan. . 
Nat. Ord. Ranunovtacem.—Tribe HELLEBOREZ. 
Genus DELPHINIUM, Linn. ; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. i. p. 9.) 
Detratnivum (Delphinastrum) Zalil ; perenne, erectum, puberulum, eaule subsim- 
plici, foliis tri- triter-natipartitis lacinia media interdum pinnatipartita supe- 
rioribus simplicioribus supremis bracteisve simplicibus, segmentis linearibus 
acuminatis rigidis, marginibus recurvis, petiolo- basi non dilatato, racemis 
laxifloris, floribus primulinis, pedicellis pubescentibus, sepalis late ovatis 
obtusis, calcare recto sepalis xquilongo, apice attenuato, petalis angustis 
2-fidis intus barbatulis, filamentis puberulis basi dilatatis, carpellis 3 glabris, 
stylo recto, folliculis 3 oblongis 5-costatis reticulatisque glabris, seminibus 
subquadratis transverse fimbriato-lamellatis. 
D. Zalil, Aitchison § Hemsley in Trans. Linn. Soc. Ser. 2, vol. iii. p. 30, t. 3 3° 
Vien Iilust. Gartenzert, vol, xiii. (1888) p. 12, cwm Ic. xylog. 
* 
>? F 
As a plant of economic value, this is one of the most 
interesting discoveries of the Affghan Delimitation Com- 
mission, and our knowledge of it is due to the fact that 
the Indian Government directed a competent botanist, 
Dr. Aitchison, F.R.S., to accompany that. important 
geographical operation. In the work cited above, Dr. 
Aitchison (p. 31) thus describes the Persian Zalil: ‘* This 
plant forms a great portion of the herbage of the rolling 
downs of the Badghis; in the vicinity of Gulran it was in 
great abundance, and when in blossom gave a wondrous 
golden hue.tothe pastures. In many localities in Khorasan 
above 3000 feet*it is equally common. The flowers are 
collected largely for exportation, chiefly to Persia, for 
dyeing silk; they are also exported from Herat, through 
Affghanistan bagel ge India, to be employed as a dye, 
as well as to ‘be used in medicine.’ In another place 
(p. 20) Dr. Aitchison, speaking of the vegetation of 
Badghis, says, “For a short period the hillocks are tinted 
an exquisite blue by the flowers of Gentiana Olivieri, which 
is, ‘as Boissier noted, a hot country Gentian. This is 
followed by Delphiniwm Zalil, a perennial, which throws 
Aprit lst, 1889. 
