AQUILEGIA ALnNA. 10.5 



attractive as the true species, but we confess to a desire that all the original types 

 of the genus should be preserved. We rather suspect that the A. alpina is some- 

 times sold for A. jucunda, an allied and equally beautiful species ; that, however, 

 as defined by Dr. Fischer, has white petals, and the carpels are more numerous ; 

 the peduncles of the flowers are also longer than in alpina. The A. alpina is less 

 generally kept by the trade than many other species, but may be had of Messrs. 

 Henderson, of the Pine- Apple Nursery, Edgeware Road ; nearly all the Edinburgh 

 Elorists also possess this plant, and, indeed, many of our herbaceous plants seem 

 to have retreated northward. 



In our notice of the genus at page 20 of the present volume, we alluded to 

 several fine species of Columbine, including the plant now figured. To that 

 list we may here add a few others, equally worthy of cultivation. The A. 

 Wittmanniana is a very beautiful species of rather recent introduction. It grows 

 about eighteen inches high, and produces, in June, large flowers of a fine porcelain 

 blue. This plant may be had of Messrs Henderson, of the Wellington Nursery, 

 St. John's Wood. The A. Canadensis is much less rare than the above, but is not 

 so common as it deserves to be. It is somewhat diminutive, but has an elegant 

 appearance when in flower; the blossoms are of a reddish orange, a colour not 

 often found in this genus. The styles and stamens of this plant project 

 considerably beyond the mouth of the flower, and the spurs are straight. There 

 is a variety with pale yellow blossoms, which is of equal interest with the true 

 species. The curious A. pubi flora (woolly-flowered) is deserving of notice, but, 

 unhappily, we are unaware where it is to be obtained. Some years since, a fine 

 hybrid variety was obtained between the A. silirica and A. vulgaris, havin°- 

 flowers striped with purple and white, and named after the lady by whom it was 

 originated, Gamieriana ; it is a desirable plant, and is commonly kept by some of 

 the London Florists. To these we may add a recently introduced species from the 

 North of India, the A. Kanaoriensis, closely allied to the A. vulgaris, but with 

 straight spurs; it is a pretty plant, but on the whole less desirable than many we 

 have noticed. It may be gratifying to some of our readers to learn that the 

 A. Skinneri, referred to in our first notice of these plants, proves quite hardy; we 

 were ourselves doubtful if it would endure excessive cold, such as that of the past 

 spring, but it has resisted with the thermometer nearly at zero, and no fears, 

 therefore, need be entertained for it in future. 



The term Aauilegia is derived from aquila, an eagle, whose claws the nectaries, 

 or spurs, are imagined to resemble. It is curious that the English name of this 

 genus, Columbine, is applied by the French to another division of Ranunculaceous 

 plants, the Thalictrums, or Meadow-Rue, the Aquilegias being known in France as 

 Qant de Notre Dame, or Ancolie. 



