94 



FLOWERS OF THE CORNFIELDS 



and yield at the side when the bee, which must have a long proboscis, 



attempts to thrust in its head. Cross-pollination is caused by insects, 



and self-pollination will take place in any case. Larkspur is generally 



pollinated by humble-bees. 

 The seed of the Lark- 

 spur is dispersed by the 

 wind. The seeds are 

 black and angular and 

 ridged, and contained in 

 a follicle or dry fruit, and 

 are shaken out only by a 

 strong wind. 



The Larkspur is a 

 lime-loving plant and re- 

 quires a lime soil, being 

 suited to districts where 

 chalk or limestone contrib- 

 utes to form a subsoil of 

 a limy character. 



This plant is not in- 

 fested by micro-fungi. 



The moths Chariclea 

 Delphinii and the Viper's 

 Bugloss moth (Dianthoscia 

 Echii) visit it, as also 

 Heliothis dipsacea. 



Dioscorides gave the 

 name Delphinium (Greek 

 delphis, a dolphin) from 

 the form of the nectary. 

 Ajacis is from Ajax 

 (Greek, Aias), from mark- 

 ings like AIA. Larkspur 

 is the only name, perhaps 



in allusion to the length of spur like the toe of the lark's foot. 



The plant is a favourite in our gardens, and the flowers have been 



varied considerably by cultivation. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



14. Delphinium Ajacis, Reichb. Stem erect, leaves alternate, 



multifid, flowers in raceme, sepals united, petals small, spurred, blue, 



white, pink, follicles i to 5, downy, seeds wrinkled. 



Photo. J. H. Crabtr 



LARKSPUR (Delphinium Ajacis, Reichb. 



