130 breck's new book of flowers. 



The leaves are pinnated, each consisting of from five 

 to seven ovate accuminate leaves. Stems round, twining 

 from six to eight feet high, in July and August. 



AOTILEGIA.— Columbine. 



[From aquila, an eagle. The inverted spurs of the flower have been likened 

 to the talons of a bird of prey.] 



Aquilegia vulgaris, and its varieties, are too well 

 known to require description. They are all beautiful, and 

 interesting when planted in beds or masses. They are of 

 every shade of blue, purple-white, reddish-brown, rose, 

 striped or variegated, with single, semi-double and full 

 double flowers. Some of the single sorts are more desir- 

 able than the double ; particularly the large single blue 

 and purple varieties, with white centers. In bloom in 

 June and July. Propagated by dividing the roots, or 

 from seed from choice varieties. All are perennial. 



A. Canadensis, is one of the finest species ; indigenous, 

 common in rocky situations, flowering early in May and 

 June. It has pendulous scarlet flowers, yellow inside. I 

 have seen a 2)ui'e white variety, growing in the crevice or 

 seam of a rock, but, in my attempt to extricate it, the 

 root was broken ofi" and ruined, to my great sorrow. I 

 have also seen a straw-colored variety at the Botanic 

 Garden, Cambridge. This elegant vernal flower is much 

 improved when cultivated, the stool increasing in magni- 

 tude, throwing up many more stems, and the flowers en- 

 larged. If some florist would undertake the task of 

 impregnating the flowers of this variety Avith some of 

 the fine garden species, no doubt, but very satisfactory 

 results would be obtained. 



A. glandlllosa, is a splendid and newly introduced 

 sj)ccies from Siberia. The plant is more dwarfish in its 



