146 



1. RANUNCULACE^. Actjba. 



blue. It is deservedly esteemed in the flower-garden, and is of the easiest cul- 

 ture. Jl. Aug-t 



3. D. TRicoRNE. Michx. Three-fruited Larkspiir. 



Petioles slightly dilated at base ; Ivs. 5-parted, divisions 3— 5-cleft, lobes 

 linear, acutish ; pet. shorter than the sepals, lower ones 2-cleft, densely bearded 

 inside'; spur ascending, straight, as long as the calyx ; carpets 3, spreading in 

 fruit.— Uplands, Penn. to xMo. and Ark. Plant 6—18' high, nearly smooth. 

 Leaves roundish in outline, on long petioles. Flowers 6—8, light blue, in a 

 rather loose panicle. 



4. D. AZUREUM. Michx. Azure Larkspiir. 



Pubescent or nearly smooth ; st. erect; Ivs. 3— 5-parted, many-cleft, with 

 linear lobes ; petioles some dilated at base ; rac. strict ; pet. shorter than sepals, 

 lower one densely bearded, 2-cleft ; spur ascending.— Native in Wis. and Ark. 

 A very variable species, cultivated in gardens. Stem 2 — 4 f. high. Flowers 

 azure-colored.-f 



5. D. GRANDiFLORUxM. Large Blue Larkspur.— Lvs. palmate, many-parted, 

 lobes linear, distant ; pedicels longer than bract ; jM. shorter than calyx.— A 

 superb perennial species, from Siberia. Flowers double or single, in racemes, 

 of brilliant dark blue, with a tinge of purple.f 



6. D. ELATUM. Bee Larkspur. — Lts. downy, 5-lobed, lobes cuneate at base, 

 trifid, cut-dentate ; spur inflexed.— Native of Siberia. Stem 5 or ^i high. 

 Flowers blue, and when viewed at a little distance, resembling the bee in Ibrm.f 



Observation.— A few other species may perhaps be found in gardens. All are showy plants, of the 

 easiest culture. 



13. ACONITUM. 



Gr. UKovirog, without dust; because the plants grow on dry rocks. 



Sepals 5, irregular, colored, upper one vaulted ; petals 5, the 3 

 lower minute, the 2 upper on long claws, concealed beneath the upper 

 sepal, recurved and nectariferous at the apex ; styles 3 — 5 ; follicles 

 3 — 5. — %Lvs. digitate or palmate. Fls. in terminal spikes. 

 1. A. UNXiNATUM. American Wolffs- Bane. 



St. flexuose ; panicle rather loose, with divergent branches ; lvs. palmate, 

 3_5.parted, with rhomboidal-lanceolate, cut-dentate divisions ; galea (upper 

 sepal) exactly conical, rostrate; 5;^7/r inclined, somewhat spiral ; <7r«. villous.— 

 A cultivated, poisonous plant, also native N. Y. to Ga. Stem 2f high. 

 Leaves coriaceous, dark green, 4—5' wide. Flowers large, purple, 3 or 4 near 

 the summit of each branch. Jl. Aug. 



2. A. Napellus. (A. delphinifolia. DC.) Monk's-Hood. — ^S/^. straight, erect ; 

 lvs. deeply 5-cleft, cut into linear segments, furrowed above ; upper sep. arched 

 at the back, lateral ones hairy inside ; ova. smooth.— A poisonous plant, culti- 

 vated among flowers. It is a tall, rank perennial, making quite a consequen- 

 tial appearance. Stem 4f high, with a long spicate inflorescence at its termi- 

 nation. Flowers dark blue, surmounted by the vaulted upper sepal, as if 

 hooded in a monk's cowl. Aug.— There are varieties with flowers white, rose- 

 colored, &c. 



14. ACT^A. 



Gr. aKTTi, the elder; which plant these herbs rcsenable in foliage. 



Calyx inferior, of 4 roundish, deciduous sepals ; corolla of 4 — 8 

 spatulate, unguiculate petals; filaments about 30, dilated above; 

 anthers 2-lobed, introrse ; stigmas sessile ; ovary ovoid ; berry glo- 

 bose, with a lateral furrow, 1-celled ; seeds many, smooth, com- 

 pressed. — 'II- urith iernatcly divided lvs. Fls. ichite. 



\. A. RUBRA. Bigelow. (A. Americana. PA.") Red Bane-berry. 



Lvs. twice and thrice ternate ; ra^. hemispherical ; pet. acute ; pedicels of the 

 fruit slender; berries red, oyo\d-oh]or\g.— 'Not uncommon in rocky woods, Penn. 

 to Lab. W. to Rocky Mts. Stem 1^—21 high, dividing into 2 branches, one 

 of which usually bears leaves onlv, the other leaves and a cluster of flowers. 



