26 FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE RIVIERA 



H. viridis L. Green Hellebore. Plant 1-2 ft. high. Radical leaves large, 

 on long stalks, divided into 7-11 oblong, acute, toothed segments 3-4 in. long, 

 the central ones free, the lateral ones connected at the base. Flowers 2-4, droop- 

 ing, greenish. 



Mountain woods in the Maritime Alps, local. Tenda district, Monte Ceppo, 

 etc. March, April. 



H. fcetidus L. Stinking Hellebore. Plant at least 2 ft. high, robust, 

 with perennial leafy stems. Lower leaves not all radical, and forming a larger 

 and thicker tuft than in the last species. Segments narrower, less toothed and 

 more shining. Flowers in a close panicle, drooping, pale green tinged with purple. 



Stony places, borders of woods, etc., in the mountain region, descending to 

 the littoral in both Departments. February, March. 



ERANTHIS Salisb. 



E. hiemalis Salisb. Winter Aconite. Leaves radical, glabrous, shining, 

 longly petioled, orbicular but deeply cut into segments, appearing after the 

 flowers. Flowers yellow, regular ; sepals petaloid, deciduous, 5-8. Petals 

 small, 2 lipped. Follicles 5-8, free divergent, with a beak half their length. 



Damp woods ; very rare. February, March. Recorded by Ardoino from 

 north of Nice and Castellane, but doubted by Burnat in " Fl. des Alpes Marit." 



P/CONIA L. 



P. peregrina Mill. Stem 1-2 ft. high. Leaves biternate, green above, 

 glaucous and pubescent below. Petals rose coloured, very large. Flowers 

 regular, handsome. Follicles 2-3, spreading at maturity. 



Mountain pastures from 800 to 1300 m. ; above Mentone, Nice, Grasse, St. 

 Auban, etc., and rather higher in the Ligurian Alps, e.g. Monte Toraggio. May. 



In the Var it is represented by the variety P. paradoxa Anders., which is 

 found in mountain woods, near Ampus, Ve"rignon, etc., from April to June. 



QARIDELLA L. 



Q. Nigellastrum L. = NigellaGaridella Bail/on. Annual stem about a 

 foot high, slender, angular. Leaves multifid, with very narrow segments. 

 Flowers small, white or reddish, solitary, long peduncled. Follicles 2-3, united 

 in their lower half, beak short. 



Hilly fields, among the olives, etc. ; rare. May, June. Formerly at Nice and 

 Cannes, but excluded by Burnat; Toulon, Cap Brun, Carqueiranne, Seillans. 



NIG ELLA L. LOVE-IN-A-MIST. 



N. Damascena L. (Plate I). Annual. Stem a foot or more high, erect, 

 angular. Leaves multifid with linear acute segments. Involucre like the 

 leaves. Flowers blue. Sepals ovate lanceolate, petaloid deciduous. Follicles 

 5, glabrous, united at the summit and forming a globular capsule. 



Fields and dry hills, common. May-June. 



AQUILEGIA L. COLUMBINE. 



A. vulgaris L. Common Columbine. Stem 1-3 ft. high, pubescent, 

 branched above. Leaves biternate, whose incisions don't reach the middle ; 

 lower leaves with long petioles and broad lobes; upper leaves sessile. Flowers 

 irregular, bluish purple, rose, white, or dark violet (A. atrata). Stamens longer 

 than petals. 



Sub-Alpine and mountain region. June-July. 



A. Retlteri Boiss. Stem 1-2 ft. high, with 1-5 flowers, viscous. Leaves 

 small, biternate ; leaflets deeply incised ; upper leaves with 3-7 linear lobes or 

 entire. Flowers bright blue. Spur strongly curved in. Follicles small. 



Woods and rocky places in the mountains, rare. June, July. Aiguines, in 

 the Marges escarpments, above Menton, Val Casterino near Tenda, Roubion, 

 St. Martin Lantosque. Not uncommon on mountains behind Bordighera as on 

 Testa d'Alpe. Usually above 1000 m. 



