1.02 FLORA HI3T0RICA. 



petals, yet retains an advantage over the Double 

 Stock, and many other flowers which lose their 

 parts of fructification when their petals are multi- 

 plied, for the Delphinium retains its anthers and 

 stigmaS; and consequently produces seed; but if 

 this seed be suffered to sow itself in the autumn, it 

 generally returns to its natural single state, whilst 

 the seed that is kept dry, and sown later in the 

 season or in the spring, produces double flowers. 

 This species of Upright Larkspur, Delphinium 

 Jjacis, is a native of Switzerland, but in late times 

 it has been found growing spontaneously in seve- 

 ral parts of the south of Europe ; it is generally 

 thought to have escaped from neighbouring gar- 

 dens. 



The seeds of the different -coloured varieties 

 should be kept distinct, as tliis affords an opportu- 

 nity of raising clumps of separate colours, which 

 give a pleasing effect ; yet we recommend some 

 patches to be sown with all the colours mixed. We 

 have frequently admired them in the Royal gardens 

 of France when thus mixed ; and this flower is more 

 attended to in that country than with us. These 

 plants send down long fibres, and therefore will not 

 bear transplanting ; but they may be suffered to 

 stand thicker on the ground than the Branching 

 Larkspur, Delphinium Consolida, which spreads 

 its branches to some distance, so that four or five 



