Stem erect, about two feet high. Flowers in spikes, vari- 

 egated, sometimes changing to plain. Leaves with footstalks 

 placed alternate on the petiole. 



Of the many species of Aconlhim which are cultivated, the 

 A. variegatum is the most interesting. Its habit of growth is less 

 straggling than that of many others, and it attains the height 

 of about two feet, bearing a spike of pale-blue flowers striped 

 with white, which appear in the months of July and August. 

 All the species of Aconitum are considered to be deadly 

 poisonous. The A. Napelhcs, or Monk's-Hood, is decidedly 

 the most dangerous : neither the root, the stem, the leaves, nor 

 the flowers are free from this horrid property : it is neverthe- 

 less serviceable in Materia Medica. It is said that the juice 

 of these plants is used by the huntsmen of the Alps for the 

 purpose of poisoning their arrows. The A. NapelbtSy being 

 much stronger in its growth than the A. variegatum, is con- 

 sequently better fitted for the shrubbery ; while the latter, 

 being more delicate, is better suited for the flower-beds and 

 herbaceous borders. 



This plant is a native of Italy and Bohemia, and was intro- 

 duced in 1752. It thrives well in light earth, and is increased 

 by separating the roots. 



The drawing of this figure was taken at Messrs. Bucking- 

 ham and Chandler's, Vauxhall. 



REFERENCES TO THE PLATE, 



1. Stamens and pistils. 



2. Nectaries. 



