12 RANUNCULACE.E. 



a place for their distinctive character, if not for actual display. 

 The same soil and treatment as for Actcea. 



C. cordifolia {Heart-leaved Biigiiwri). — This species grows 

 to the height of about 4 feet, with large ternately-divided leaves, 

 the segmen1:s large and heart-shaped, obscurely lobed and 

 sharply toothed ; and produces long, rather dense, branched 

 spikes or racemes of white and yellow flowers in June and 

 July. Native of North America. 



C. foetida {Stmkhig Biigwoj-t). — This species grows about 

 the same height as the last, if anything taller. The leaves are 

 divided in a similar manner, but the segments are smaller and 

 are not lobed, but acutely toothed and lance-shaped in outline. 

 The racemes of flowers are more numerous and more freely 

 branched. The flowers are small, pale yellow, appearing m 

 June and July, often also continued into August. Native of 

 Siberia. 



C. palmata (Palmate -leaved Bugwort.) — This species is 

 about the same in stature as the preceding, but differs markedly 

 from both in all other features. The leaves are palmate in 

 shape, and acutely but rather roughly toothed. The flowers 

 are produced in panicles, not racemes or spikes, and the forks 

 of the panicles are developed in equal pairs. Flowers yellow 

 and white, appearing in July and August. Native of North 

 America. 



Delphinium {^Larkspw-). — This is a numerous group, clearly 

 marked and not easily confounded with either of its nearest 

 relatives the Columbines or Monkshoods. A very large num- 

 ber of rather variable forms are comprised in it ; many species 

 are founded on trivial and inconstant distinctions, and there 

 is altogether much confusion of opinion among botanists as to 

 what should be regarded as the proper limits of species ; but 

 there is, no doubt, much difiiculty in the way of a harmonious 

 understanding in all cases of this kind where the forms are 

 numerous and run into each other on all sides. The high' 

 merits of Delphiniums for decoration are well known and 

 universally admitted. Not many groups of plants indeed, of 

 the same extent, contain so few weedy subjects; and yet it does 

 not present the same distinct variety of colour and habit as 

 many genera that comprise not one-tenth the number of its 

 reputed species. But their style of growth is bold and striking ; 

 and though only blues, purples, purplish reds and whites, in 

 various shades and combinations, are the sum of the colours at 

 present known in the group, yet these are so bright in most 

 species and varieties, that when considered along with the 

 noble plume-like mode of flowering and imposing habit of 



