90 KEY AND FLORA 



terminal racemes or panicles, showy. Sepals 5, colored, irregu- 

 lar, the upper one prolonged into a spur. Petals 4, unequal, 

 the two upper ones with long spurs which are inclosed in the 

 spur of the upper sepal, the other two short-stalked. Pistils 

 1-5 ; ovaries many-seeded.* 



1. D. tricorne Michx. DWARF LARKSPUR. Perennial. Stem simple, 

 from a tuberous root, usually low (-1 ft. high), but sometimes 

 2 ft. high. Leaves deeply 5-parted, the divisions irregularly 3-5-cleft. 

 Racemes few-flowered, loose. Flowers blue, sometimes white. Pods 

 diverging. Southward. 



2. D. azureum Michx. BLUE LARKSPUR. Perennial. Stem usually 

 simple, slender, downy, 1-2 ft. high. Leaves 2-3 in. wide, 3-5-parted, 

 the divisions cleft into 3-5 narrow, toothed, or entire lobes. Flowers 

 in a strict, many-flowered, terminal raceme, showy, blue or whitish. 

 Spur ascending, curved ; lower petals bearded, 2-cleft. Pods erect. 

 On rich or rocky soil in open places, N.* 



XIII. ACONITUM L. 



Erect, perennial herbs. Leaves alternate, palmately lobed 

 or cut. Flowers irregular, in panicles or racemes. Sepals 5, 

 the back one large, arched, and hooded, the front one the 

 narrower. Petals 2-5, small, the 2 back ones clawed and 

 covered by the hood of the sepals ; 3 lateral ones small or 

 wanting. Follicles 3-5. Seeds many, wrinkled. 



1. A. Napellus L. MONKSHOOD. An erect, poisonous plant, 1-2 ft. 

 high. Raceme simple and densely flowered. Flowers dark blue. Cul- 

 tivated from E.irope. 



Several native species of Aconitum occur within our limits, but 

 they are nos common. 



XIV. ACT^A L. 



Perennial. Stem simple. Leaves 2-3, compound in threes ; 

 leaflets ovate, sharply cut or toothed. Flowers white, in a 

 short and thick terminal raceme. Sepals 4-5, soon deciduous. 

 Petals 4-10, small. Pistil single ; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit a 

 many-seeded berry.* 



1. A. rubra Willd. RED BANEBERRY. Stem about 2 ft. high. 

 Raceme ovoid or hemispherical. Petals acute. Pedicels slender. 

 Berries usually red, sometimes white, ovoid. Common N. 



