24 



NATURAL EISTOBY OF PLANTS. 



are eight' petals orii^imilly disposed like those of Nigella, but the two 

 opposite the posterior sepal alone receive any marked development. 



Fig. 43. 

 Flower. 



Aconitum NapelUis. 

 Fig. 44. 

 Flower, the sepals detached. 



Fio. 45. 



Diagram. 



Each has the form of a conical tube swollen at the tip, where it is 

 lined by a glandular nectariferous tissue, the inner border forming a 

 projecting lip, and the outer border supported by a long inflexed 

 claw, whose margins are turned inwards to form a kind of gutter 

 (fig. 46). The six other petals are reduced to short filaments, 

 unequal and but slightly coloured. The stamens are very numerous, 

 and inserted spirally as in Nigclla, but the secondary spirals are not 



Aconitum Napellus. 

 Fir. 46. 

 Longitndinal section of flower. 



Fig. 47. 

 Fruit. 



so marked. The filaments are dilated, and, as it were, petaloid 



Pateu, Organog., 252, t. Iv. 



