colored, &c. 
146 I, RANUNCULACEA. AcTEA. 
blue. It is deservedly esteemed in the flower-garden, and is of the easiest cul- 
ture. Jl. Aug.T 
3. D. rricorNE. Michx. Three-fruited Larkspur. 
Petioles slightly dilated at base; /vs. 5-parted, divisions 3—5-cleft, lobes 
linear, acutish ; pet. shorter than the sepals, lower ones 2-cleft, densely bearded 
inside; spwr ascending, straight, as long as the calyx; carpels 3, spreading in 
fruit—Uplands, Penn. to Mo, and Ark. Plant 6—18’ high, nearly smooth. 
Leaves roundish in outline, on long petioles. Flowers 6—8, light blue, in a 
rather loose panicle. 
4. D. azureum. Michx. - Azure Larkspur. 
Pubescent or nearly smooth; st. erect; lus. 3—5-parted, many-cleft, with 
linear lobes; petioles some dilated at base; rac. strict; pet. shorter than sepals, 
lower one densely bearded, 2-cleft; spur ascending.—Native in Wis. and Ark. 
A very variable species, cultivated in gardens. Stem 2—4 f. high. Flowers 
azure-colored.+ 
5. D. GRaNDIFLORUM. Large Blue Larkspur.—tLvs. palmate, many-parted, 
lobes linear, distant; pedicels longer than bract; pet. shorter than calyx.—A 
superb perennial species, from Siberia. Flowers double or single, in racemes, 
of brilliant dark blue, with a tinge of purple.t 
6. D. evaAtum. Bee Larkspur.—Lws. downy, 5-lobed, lobes cuneate at base, 
trifid, cut-dentate; spur inflexed—Native of Siberia. Stem 5 or 6f high. 
Flowers blue, and when viewed at a little distance, resembling the dee in form. 
Observation.—A few other species may perhaps be found in gardens. All are showy plants, of the 
easiest culture. 
13. ACONITUM. 
GY. akovtTos 1 Without dust; because the plants grow on dry rocks. 
Sepals 5, irregular, colored, upper one vaulted; petals 5, the 3 
lower minute, the 2 upper on long claws, concealed beneath the upper 
sepal, recurved and nectariferous at the apex; styles 3—5 ; follicles 
3—5.—2 Lvs. digitate or palmate. ls. in terminal spikes. 
1. A. uncINATUM. American Wolf’s-Bane. 
. St. flexuose; panicle rather loose, with divergent branches; Js. palmate, 
3—5-parted, with rhomboidal-lanceolate, cut-dentate divisions; gala (upper 
sepal) exactly conical, rostrate; spwr inclined, somewhat spiral; ova. villous.— 
A cultivated, poisonous plant, also native N. Y. to Ga. Stem 2f high. 
Leaves coriaceous, dark green, 4—5’ wide. Flowers large, purple, 3 or 4 near 
the summit of eachbranch. Jl. Aug. 
2. A. Napetius. (A. delphinifolia. DC.) Monk’s-Hood.—St. straight, erect; 
lws. deeply 5-cleft, cut into linear segments, furrowed above ; upper sep. arched 
at the back, lateral ones hairy inside ; ova. smooth.—A poisonous plant, culti- 
vated among flowers. It is a tall, rank perennial, making quite a consequen- 
tial appearance. Stem 4f high, with a long spicate inflorescence at its termi- 
nation. Flowers dark blue, surmounted by the vaulted upper sepal, as if 
hooded in amonk’scowl. Aug.—There are varieties with flowers white, rose-~ 
14. ACT ZA. 
s Gr. axrn, the elder; which plant these herbs resemble in foliage. 
Calyx inferior, of 4 roundish, deciduous sepals; corolla of 4—8 
spatulate, unguiculate petals; filaments about 30, dilated above; 
anthers 2-lobed, introrse; stigmas sessile; ovary ovoid ; berry glo- 
bose, with a lateral furrow, l-celled; seeds many, smooth, com- 
pressed.— with ternately divided lus. Els. whate. 
1. A. RuBra. Bigelow. (A. Americana. ici Red Bane-berry. 
Lvs. twice and thrice ternate ; rac. hemispherical ; pet. acute ; pedicels of the 
wit slender; berries red, ovoid-oblong.—Not uncommon in rocky woods, Penn. 
to\ Lab. W. to Rocky Mts. Stem 13—2f high, dividing into 2 branches, one 
of which usually bears leaves only, the other leaves and a cluster of flowers. 
