16 



The species are: 1. j^. vulgaris, Common Columbine; 2. A. al- 

 pma. Mountain Columbine; 3. A. canadensis, Canadian Dwarf Co- 

 lumbine. 



In the first the stem is three feet high, erect, branching, leafy, 

 and somewhat angular. The leaves smooth, glaucous underneath; 

 the lower ones peliolate, biternate; the leaflets roundish, trilobate, 

 gashed and notched; the upper ones digitate, the lobes oval and 

 quite entire: the radical petioles very long. The flowers are pro- 

 duced from the tops of the naked branches, and hang down; they 

 have generally six pistils and eight nectaries. It is a native of most 

 parts of Europe, and perennial, flowering in June. 



There are several varieties, the flowers varying greatly by culture, 

 becoming double either by multiplying the petals or the nectaries. 

 And of all these varieties, there are subordinate variations, both in 

 the degree of doubleness, as with two or more rows of petals, two or 

 three rows of nectaries, curiously inserted one into the other; and in 

 the colours, as blue, white, red, purple, flesh-coloured, ash-coloured, 

 chesnut-colourcd, and striped or variegated blue and purple, blue 

 and white, red and white, &c. 



The second species has the root biennial. The leaves biternate, 

 lender, and smaller than in the common sort; the leaflets multifid ; 

 the lobes sublinear and blunt; with the appearance and tenderness 

 of the Canadian Columbine. It is a native of the Alps, &c. and 

 flowers in May and June. 



The third has likewise a perennial root. The stems are very 

 slender, and reddish. The leaves in the lower ones biternate, irregu- 

 larly divided, the extreme lobes blunt, the upper ones simply ter- 

 nate, toothed or quite entire; the uppermost simple, lanceolate, and 

 acuminate. The corollas yellow within, and red on the outside. It 

 is a native of Virginia, &c. and flowers in April. 



Culture. — The culture in these plants may be effected, either by 

 sowing the seeds, or parting the old roots; but the first is the best 

 practice, as the old roots are apt to decline and degenerate after they 

 have blown a few seasons. The seed may be put in either in the 

 autumn or spring season; but the former is the belter, as seed which 



