up a spike of bright yellow blossom, two feet in height. 
Its showy blossoms suddenly cover the downs, which they 
illuminate with their brilliant colouring, affording a sight 
never to be forgotten.” 
The fact of D. Zalil affording a dye-stuff is one of many 
evidences of our ignorance of the materials used in the 
industrial arts ef the East. It is reasonable to suppose 
that the flowers have been an article of commerce for 
ages, and yet I am unable to find any allusion to the 
subject in books devoted to the Economic Botany of India 
or to its manufactures. It is to be hoped that this may 
meet the eye of some intelligent official in the British 
Indian service, who might ascertain to what purpose the 
imported Zalil is put. é 
D. Zalil does not accord well with any section of 
Delphinastrum, as these are defined by Boissier. Regel, 
who was consulted as to its affinity, and whose great 
knowledge of Oriental plants is unquestioned, pro- 
nounced it to be possibly D. ochroleucum, a Soongarian 
species, reduced by Boissier (vol. i. p. 89) to a form of the 
polymorphous D. hybridum, which has white, blue, and 
scarlet flowers; but that species belongs to the division 
with a dilated base of the petiole, with the lower petals 
equalling or exceeding the sepals, and with other discordant 
characters; yet I know no nearer affinity. 
The spetimen figured was raised from seed sent to 
Kew by Dr. Aitchison in September, 1886, and which 
flowered in July of last year.—J. D. H. | 
Fig. 1 and 2, Petals; 3, carpels :—all enlarged. 
