Aconitumi] flora indica. 55 



and luridum are all extensively used a9 Bitch, and are indiscriminately called by that 

 name throughout the Himalaya. We have not detected any characters by which 

 the dried roots of these species can be specifically recognized, nor do we believe that 

 any such exist. Their form and size seem to depend on local circumstances, and 

 their colour on the mode of drying. WitS regard to native information, upon 

 which so much stress is laid, our experience has proved it to be utterly worthless so 

 far as regards the discrimination of the species of Aconite ; even the most intelligent 

 hill-men have no exact knowledge on the subject. 



1. A. Lycoctonum (L. Sp. 753); foliis palmatis, racemis laxis 

 paniculatis, floribus violaceis vel ochroleucis, casside conica vel cylin- 

 dracea, petalorum ungue recto filiformi, calcare elongato cylindrico un- 

 cinato vel contorto, folliculis 3 divaricatis, seminibus transversim pli- 

 cato-ragosis.— DC. Prod. i. 57; Ledeb. FL Ross. i. 66. A. lseve, 



Royle! III. 56. 



Hab. In Himalaya occidentnli temperata, alt. 7-10,000 ped.: Kash- 

 mir! Chamba! Kanawer! Kumaon !— (Fl. Aug. Sept.) (v. v.) 



Distrib. Europa ! (excl. Britannia) ; Asia temperata ! 



am 



paniculatim ramosa. Folia diam. 6-10-poll., rotundato-reniformia, ultra medium pal- 

 matim 7-9-fida, lobis cuneato-ovatis trilobis et argute incisis ; superiora sessilia, 

 5-3-partita, segmentis oblongis grosse incisis vel indivisis. Racemi elongati, axillaris, 

 laterales et terminates, puberuli vel tomentosi; bracteis lineari-lanceolatis minutis. 

 Mores flavidi, ochroleuci vel pallide violacei, magnitudine valde varii, puberuli. Cassis 

 dorso cylindracea vel subconica, antice in rostrum breve porrecta. Petala longe un- 

 guiculata, ungue filiformi erecto, apice in saccum dilatato, calcare cylindrico recurvo 

 uncinato vel subcontorto apice obtuso, labello oblongo emarginato. Ovaria 3, gla- 

 bra vel pubescentia. Folliculi £-f -poll. 



A well marked and widely diffused species, varying much in the size and shape of 

 the helmet, and in the degree of curvature of the spur of the petals, which is either 

 at once abruptly reflexed and convolute, or straight with a recurved tip. The latter 

 shape is that assigned by authors to A. orientate, Miller, or A. ockroleucum, "Willd., 

 while the former Is ascribed to the true A. Lycoctonum. In both, we find the shape 

 of the spur very variable, as also in the Indian plant, which is identical in general 

 appearance with the northern forms of A. Lycoctonum, except that it is usually 

 somewhat smaller-ilowercd. 



2. A. luridum (H.f. et T.) ; foliis palmatim 5-fidis, racemo laxius- 

 culo simplici, floribus sordide rubicundis, casside postice gibbosa hemi- 

 sphzerica antice late et obtuse rostrata, petalorum ungue erecto brevi 

 lato, cucullo horizontali maximo, calcare brevi lato obtusissimo, folli- 

 culis 3-5 erectis, seminibus triquetris lsevibus. 



Hab. In Sikkim interiori, alt. 14,000 ped.! (ad Tankra et Chola).— 



(Fl. Aug.) (v. v.) 



Caulis erectus, 2-3-pedalis, paucifoliatus, puberulus. Folia ra- 



ta, pet. fere pedalibus, utrinque adpresse puberula, ultra medium 



5-fida, lobis cuneato-ovatis grosse crenato-dentatis ; caulina 5-3 -partita, argute in- 

 ciso-dentata ; fioralia bract eseformia, tridentata, lanceolata vel hneana. Racemus 

 simplex, £-l-pedalis. Pedicelli bracteis et floribus plerumque breviores, lnfenores 

 interdum remoti, elongati, 2-3-bracteolati. Sepala fidvo-tomentosa. Cassis long, 

 f poll., gibbere ± poll, alto fere hemispluerico. Petala ungue erecto \ poll, lato ca- 

 nalicuiato, labello apicem versus porrecto, emarginato. Ovaria glabra vel pilosa. 

 This species is verv distinct from any hitherto described in the form of the hel- 



Radix fusiformis 



