DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 191 



it and planted it in masses, producing flowers of a dazzling 

 blue color. There was no blue flower that produced so 

 brilliant an efiect. It was more dwarfish than D. Sinen- 

 sis^ growing about two feet high, the stems not so flexible, 

 and color much finer; the flowers being double, I could 

 never obtain seed. Another seedling, called Breck's No. 

 2, color purplish blue, with semi-double flowers and infe- 

 rior to No. 1, I did not care to propagate, and let it die. 

 I believe the destruction of this beautiful variety was 

 caused by little maggot-like worms, which worked in the 

 roots. 



D. Hendersoni is a beautiful variety, raised by Mr. Hen- 

 derson, a nurseryman of England ; probably from J), ela- 

 tum^ which it very much resembles in growth and foliage. 

 The flowers are sky-blue, with white centre, and are ar- 

 ranged in long spikes. 



D. formosiim. — This is a splendid species or hybrid va- 

 riety, with large lively blue flowers, with the centre white, 

 shaded with reddish-purple ; one of the most desirable 

 hardy herbaceous plants in cultivation. It blooms from 

 July to November, giving a supply of the most brilliant 

 blue throughout the season. A. coelestimmi is a variety 

 oi fonnosum^ or a hybrid of elatum^ with sky-blue flow- 

 ers, equally hardy. There is also a large number of 

 hybrid Delphiniums^ partaking of the habit of elatum^ 

 which are beautiful ; but these described, will be sufticient 

 to make up a good collection. 



D. cardinalis is found in Southern California. — I should 

 doubt its existence, had I not seen specimens of the dried 

 l^lant, which were of a brilliant scarlet. I saw it in the 

 herbarium of a gentleman, the editor of a paper in Los 

 Angelos, who gathered it himself It was advertised by 

 some of the English and French nurserymen at about five 

 dollars a plant. I ordered one from each place, when, to 

 my great disappointment, it turned out to be D.punicewm^ 



