Delphinium viridcaccnti and jSaiubucas IciuspcDiia. 41 



'Albatross.' S. pubens JSl\chx., S. melanncarpa Gray, and S. leio- 

 sperma form a group wherein the specific distinctions lie almost 

 wholly in the color of the mature fruit and the character of the 

 surface of the nutlet. To these three species should be added a 

 fourth, the ^S. odlicarpa of Greene (as restricted). The character of 

 the hard covering of the nutlets in the latter species is still a mat- 

 ter of uncertainty, as the descriptions contain no reference to this 

 point. Assuming, however, that certain specimens of red-fruited 

 elder in the National Herbarium collected in central and south- 

 ern California correctly represent that species, Ave can arrange 

 the group as follows : 



Mature fruit scarlet. 



Surface of nutlets transversely rugose S. inibens. 



Surface of nutlets puncticulate S. callicarpa. 



Surface of nutlets smooth S. leiosperma. 



IMature fruit black. 



Surface of nutlets transversely rugose S. melanocarpa. 



