LARKSPUR. 215 



LARKSPUR. 



DELPHINIUM. 



RANUNCULACE^. POLYANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 



The Latin name was given to this plant from an idea that the buds 

 had some resemblance to a dolphin. — French, pied-d'alouette ; I'eperon 

 de chevalier [knight's spur] ; la consoude royale [royal comfrey] ; 

 I'herbe Sainte Othilie. — Italian, speronella [little spur]; sperone di 

 cavaliere; consolida reale; fior regio [king flower]. — English, lark- 

 spur ; lark's-claws ; lark's-heel ; lark's-toe, on account of the spur- 

 shaped nectary at the back of the flower. 



The Branching or Wild Larkspur grows naturally in 

 many parts of Europe : it varies in colour. From the 

 flowers, when blue, a good ink has been made, with the 

 addition of a little alum. 



All the Larkspurs are hardy, and may be easily raised 

 from seed ; but as the perennial kinds do not flower the 

 first year, it is better to procure them from a nursery. 

 The annual kinds, by sowing in succession in September, 

 October, March, and April, may be had in blossom from 

 the beginning of June to the end of September : one seed 

 in a pot of at least eight inches. They do not well bear 

 transplanting. 



Those sown in the autumn will produce the strongest 

 flowers. They should stand abroad, and in dry summer 

 weather be watered a little every evening ; but water must 

 be given sparingly in the winter. 



Linnaeus and some others are of opinion that the Lark- 

 spur is the hyacinth of the poets ; but this opinion is con- 

 sidered as unfounded. Professor Martyn has determined 

 the Martagon lily to be the ancient hyacinth, and the 

 learned Heyne coincides with him. (See Hyacinth.) 



