98 1. RANUNCULACE^. 



Soutli limit in Somerset. 



North limit in Denbighshire. 



Estimate of provinces 4. Estimate of counties 6. 



Latitude 52 — 54. Atlantic type of distribution. 



Agrarian region. Inferagi'arian (andMidagrarian?) zones. 



Descends to a trifling elevation in the Peninsula. 



Ascends to 100 or 200 yards, in England. 



Range of mean annual temperature, say 49 — 47. 



Denizen. Sylvestral. Inliabits shady places, chiefly 

 along the banks of streams. Very decided differences of 

 opinion have been expressed regarding the native claims of 

 the Aconitum ; the majority would seem to cherish a very 

 protestantly English feeling against allowing British rights 

 to the Monk's-hood ; but there is a minority of some weight, 

 willing to acknowledge the symbol of Catholicism. The 

 late Mr. J.E.Bowman pronounced the plant "undoubtedly 

 wild in several places in Denbighshire." Mr. Newman 

 writes, in reference to localities for it about Leominster, 

 Herefordshire, " I have seldom seen a plant which exliibits 

 more manifest symptoms of being indigenous." And Mr. 

 Conway says, " most imquestionably tnily wild," near Pont- 

 newydd Works, Monmouthshire. It is reported to be per- 

 fectly established, if not aboriginally a native, in Somerset- 

 shire. On the faith of specimens from Mr, Moggiidge to 

 the Botanical Society of London, I venture to add South 

 Wales to the three provinces by which it is half encircled. 

 In shiTibberies, it seeds fi'eely, and increases also by root, 

 so as to keep hold of the groxmd with much tenacity where 

 once introduced; and this tendency may readily acount for 

 its lengthened spread along a stream side. But, on the 

 whole, the testimony seems to wan-ant me in designating 

 the plant ' denizen' rather than ' alien.' The late Professor 

 Graham found this Aconite on the site of an old deserted 



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