POLYANDRIA— PENTAGYNIA. Aconitum. 31 



whose petals are, in front, of a most vivid and lasting blue 5 the 

 back of each flower, as well as the nectary, being pale purplish, 

 or flesh coloured. These colours however vary much in gardens, 

 where this species is called the Branching Larkspur, and attains 

 the height of 3 or 4 feet. Bracteas at the base, and in the mid- 

 dle, of each partial stalk, simple or divided. Germen and cap- 

 sule solitary, with a short permanent stijle. Seeds angular, black, 

 very rough. 



272. ACONITUM. Wolf's-bane. 



Linn. Gen. 27 A. Juss. 234. Toiirn. t. 239, 240. Lam. t. 482. 

 Gcertn. t. 65. DeCand. Syst. v. 1. 364. 



Nat. Orel, see n. 270. 



Cal. none. Pet. 5, inferior, unequal, 4^ of them in pairs, 

 opposite; the upper one hooded, or tubular, inverted, 

 the convex or hind part being uppermost, the deflexed 

 point recurved ; 2 lateral ones roundish, opposite, con- 

 verging; 2 lowermost oblong, deflexed. Nectaries 2, 

 within the hollow of the uppermost petal, on long awl- 

 shaped stalks, tubular, drooping, oblique at the orifice, 

 recurved at the honey-bag behind. Filam. numerous, 

 broad at the base, awl-shaped, short, directed towards 

 the upper petal, some of the innermost often dilated and 

 abortive. Antli. roundish, small, erect. Gcrmens supe- 

 rior, 3, 4, or 5, oblong. Styles terminal, awl-shaped, 

 spreading. Stigmas simple, acute. Caps, {follicles)^ as 

 many as the germens, straight, ovate-oblong, of 1 valve, 

 bursting at the inner side. Seeds numerous, angular, 

 rugged, at the edges of the capsule. 



Perennial herbs, of a very dangerous quality, highly nar- 

 cotic and acrid. Roots fleshy. Stems erect, or twining. 

 Leaves fingered and cut. Clusters terminal, many-flow- 

 ered, bracteated. FL dark blue, whitish, or pale yellow. 

 The nectaries are full of honey. 



1. K. Napellus. Common Wolfs -bane, or Monk's- 

 hood. 



Upper petal arched at the back ; lateral ones hairy at the 

 inner side. Germens three, smooth. Leaves deeply 

 five-cleft, cut, with linear segments, furrowed above. 



A. Napellus, Linn. Sp. PL 751. Willd.v. 2. 1235. Woodv. t. 5. 



Furt. V. 3. 47, note. Seringue Aeon. 152. t. 15./. 41, 42, 50. 

 A. vulgare. DeCand. Syst. v. 1.371. 



