N. Ord. RANUNCULACE^E. 

 Tribe Helleborea. 



Genus Delphinium,* Linn. B. & H., Gen., i, p. 9 ; Baill., Hist. 

 PL, i, p. 80. Species about 50, natives of the north tempe- 

 rate regions of both old and new worlds. 



4. Delphinium Staphisagria,t Linn., Sp. Plant., ed. I, p. 531 



(1753). 



Stavesacrc. 



Syn. Staphisagria macrocarpa, Spach. 



Figures. Woodville, t. 154 (D. pictum, DC.) ; Flora Grseca, t. 508, cop. 

 in Steph. & Ch., t. 55 ; Nees, t. 394 ; Reichenb., Ic. PI. Germ., iv, t. 69 ; 

 Baill., Hist., i, figs. 53-58. 



Description. An annual (or biennial ?) herb, with a large 

 tapering root, and a stout, erect, cylindrical, slightly branched 

 stem reaching 3 or 4 feet in height, very finely downy and 

 densely covered with long soft spreading hairs. Leaves alternate, 

 on long hairy stalks, palmately veined, the lower ones roundish, 

 4 or 5 inches in diameter, cut into 7 9, equal, broad, over- 

 lapping lobes which are trifid with acute segments, the upper 

 ones more deeply divided into 5 7, oval or lanceolate, blunt or 

 acute, entire or slightly lobed segments, pubescent or nearly 

 smooth above, hairy on the veins beneath, bright green. 

 Flowers large, on long stout very hairy stalks in the axils of leafy 

 bracts, and with 2 smaller opposite bracts at the base of each 

 pedicel, arranged in long lax racemes or panicles at the ends of 

 the stem and branches. Sepals 5, petaloid, irregular, spreading, 

 very hairy outside, glabrous within, purplish-blue, veined, the 

 posterior one ovate provided at the base with a short, blunt, 

 faintly 2 -lobed, hollow spur projecting backward, the two 



* Delphinium, from the resemblance of the unopened flowers to the head of 

 a dolphin (delphin) as formerly represented by artists. 



f Stapliisagria, O-TO^IQ dypia, the ancient Greek name, Jierba pedicularis of 

 the Romans ; from its use. The English Stavesacre is of course a corruption. 



