Plate 322. 

 AQUILEGIA TYRENAICA. 



Amongst the herbaceous plants, which were formerly much 

 more sought after than they are at present, the race of C\)lura- 

 binos was always a favourite one ; in the gardens of the labourer 

 and the cottager, as well as in those of the wealthy, plants of 

 some of the species were to be found, whereas now, many of 

 thorn are banished to make way for other more showy plants. 

 Tlie lovers of herbaceous plants still cherisli a hope of seeing a 

 revival of interest, and many of them are going to considerable 

 expense and trouble in not only cultivating the old varieties, 

 but in introducing now ones. Foremost amongst these, we think 

 we may place Messrs. Backhouse and Son, of York, to whom we 

 arc indebted for the opportunity of figuring the exquisite little 

 gem, Aquilef/ia pyrenaica. 



AMion we remember the size to which some of the Columbines 

 attain, their handsome and luxuriant foliage, and their tall 

 flower-stems, the idea of one which when in flower does not 

 exceed nine inches in height seems at first sight unlikely to be 

 realized ; but such is the case in the little gem we now figure, 

 which we do not introduce as a novelty, for it has been known 

 for years, but as a plant though known, either forgotten, or not 

 by any means receiving the attention that it deserves. It 

 delights, we believe, in ^arm and sheltered situations, and 

 grows in the sandy detritus of the rocks ; these matteis will 

 haN-e to be studied in the cultivation of the plant, for we 

 believe some have found a difficulty in growing it on this 

 account. It will be seen that the foliage is very small, hardly 

 suggesting the idea of an Aquilegia, or of the very fairly-sized 

 flowers wliicli it produces, which are of a delicate pale lavender- 

 blue, and are freely produced, considering the size of th(> plant. 



