48 flora inbica. [Ranunculacea. 



We have therefore avoided, in all douhtfal cases, identifying the Indian species with 

 those of other countries, though we think it probable that, on a revision of the genus 

 with good materials, several of them will be found to agree with already known 

 species. We are satisfied indeed that the greater part of the described forms will 

 then be reduced to a few common types. 



The Indian Delphinia are mostly Himalayan, but one or two Persian forms ex- 

 tend as far east as the Panjab. One has been found in tropical India, but not 

 further south than the northern part of the Siadri mountaios, whence it extends 

 westwards to Abyssinia. One of the Himalayan species inhabits a very humid cli- 

 mate, and extends into the higher parts of the Khasia hills, but in general these 

 plants seem to prefer the drier climates of western India. Several species are alpine, 

 and these form a very peculiar group, with large half-closed membranous flowers, 

 remarkable in general for their strong odour of musk, whence the mountaineers 

 erroneously suppose that the musk-deer feeds on them, and thereby communicates 

 the peculiar odour to its glandular secretion. 



Sect. 1. Consolida, DC. — Ovarium 1. Petala in unum calca- 

 ratum coalita. — Species annua. [We omit Delphinium Ajacis, 

 L. (Wall. Cat. 4720 ! ; W. et A. Prod. i. 4. D. pauciflorum, 

 W. et A. Prod. i. 4 ; vix Don) which is only cultivated in 



India.] 



1. D. camptocarpum (Fisch.etMey. in Led. PI. Eoss.i. 58, 37); 

 caule rigido ramosissimo, foliis trisectis, caulinis sessilibus, segmentis 

 fere integris. — D. Persicum et Aucheri, Boissier ! Ann. Sc. Nat. xvi. 



362. 



Hab. In montibus Beluchistan supra 5000 ped., Stocks! Afghani- 

 stan, Griff. No. 1376 \—(v. s.) 



Distrib. Persia! Asia Caspica! 



Radix annua, perpendicularis. Caulis pedalis vel ^-pedalis, ramosissimus, ramis 

 rigidis divaricatis Miosis, glaber vel incano-puberulus, vel superne breviter viscoso- 

 pilosus. Folia trisecta : segmenta radicalium tripartita vel trifida, caulinorum sessi- 

 lium oblongo-cuneata pollicaria tridentata integrave. Flores longe racemosi, violacei. 

 Pedicelli patentes stricti, prope basin bracteolis 2-3 minutis linearibus muniti. Sepala 

 oblonga, obtusa, ^-pollicaria, posticum in calcar cylindricum obtusum rectum adscen- 

 dens f-pollicare productum. Petala in corollam monopetalam 4-nervem calcaratam 

 coalita, calcar cum calcare sepali postici subconforme et in eo inclnsum. Folliciclus 

 1 subrecurvus, obtusus, stylo persistente coronatus, transversim rugosus, glaber vel 



hirsutus. 



A plant with a very well marked habit, but varying much in degree of pubescence, 

 and to a certain extent in the length of the fruit. It seems to be widely distributed 

 in the hot deserts of western Asia. 



Sect. 2. Delphinastrum, DC.—Ovaria 3-7. Petala 4, postica 

 calcarata, antica pilosa vel barbata. 



2. D. penicillatum (Boissier, Ann. Sc. Nat. xvi. 369) ; caule pau- 

 cifoliato, foliis 5-partitis, segmentis inciso-pinnatitidis lobis linearibus, 

 racemis elongatis multifloris subsimplicibus, pedicellis flore parvo bre- 

 vioribus, calcare apice dilatato obtusissimo incurvo. 



Hab. In montibus aridis India; bor. occ. : Beluchistan, Stocks, No. 

 994 ! Panjab prope Rawal Pindi, Vicary! Marri, Fleming! Kash- 

 mir nrone Baramula. WinU Banahal !— (Fl. Apr. Mai.) (v. v.) 



