104 AQTJII/EGIA ALPIXA. 



petals themselves present the well-known tubular form for which the Aquilegias 

 are remarkable, terminating in a long hollow spnr, the point of which is hooked 

 inwards, and more or less pubescent, but destitute of the viscosity which is seen in 

 glandulosa and some others. The stamens are less prominent than in that species ; 

 they are arranged in concentric series, the outer ones being the shortest; the 

 innermost ring immediately in contact with the ovaries is always abortive, being 

 of a flattened membranous form and destitute of anthers. This peculiarity is 

 however generic, and may be seen in vulgaris and all the species. 



"We may here observe that the spur of this genus is but another form of the 

 nectary; in all the species it will be found to contain a sweetish fluid near the tip, 

 which is, however, to be regarded with suspicion, nearly all the plants of the 

 Ranunculus tribe being more or less poisonous, though the Aquilegias probably 

 partake of these properties in a smaller degree than most other genera. Several 

 sections of this Order exhibit a strong tendency to an irregular formation 

 of the different parts of the flower ; in some, as in the present genus, it is the 

 petals which assume an abnormal form, and in the Hellebore they are also tubular 

 and nectariferous, though not prolonged behind into a spur ; in the Larkspur and 

 Monkshood, both sepals and petals undergo modification, the heel being formed by 

 the upper sepal. Few, if any of our readers are ignorant that all the different 

 organs composing a flower — calyx, corolla, stamens and pistil — are regarded by 

 Botanists as only modifications of the leaf, and in the separate carpels ox follicles of 

 the Aquilegias, we have a good illustration of the manner in which the simplest 

 form of seed-vessel may be produced by the folding of a leaf, the back of the carpel 

 representing the mid-rib or principal vein, the inner angle of the carpel to which the 

 seeds are attached, being formed by the union of the two edges of the leaf. In the 

 common annual Nigella, which is closely related to this genus, we see the first 

 approach to the compound seed-vessel, the carpels being partially adherent at their 

 base. 



The Aquilegia alpina is, we scarcely need say, quite hardy, and requires little or 

 no precaution in its cultivation. It enjoys a rich light soil, but is by no means 

 fastidious, partial shade and free supplies of moisture in summer are desirable, the 

 latter, indeed, is indispensable. The plant being of dwarf habit, the best effect is 

 produced by grouping two or three roots ; it may be readily increased by seeds, 

 and the young plants will flower the second season ; but as the plant blossoms in 

 June when many other species of Columbine are in flower, we would advise that a 

 single blossom should be tied over with a piece of fine muslin from the time of 

 expansion until the petals have dropped, or the seed may become hydridized by the 

 admixture of the pollen of different species. This precaution is desirable with all 

 the best species, for they intermingle so readily, that there is some difficulty in 

 procuring them true to colour. Many of the hybrids might, however, prove as 



