n RANUNCULACE/E 65 



directions. The seeds are black, shining and smooth to 

 the naked eye, but with very fine granulations. In 

 seeds which are thrown, smoothness is probably an 

 advantage. 



The name Aquilegia was given from a fanciful 

 resemblance of the spurs of the petals to the claws of 

 an eagle ; Columbine from that of its flowers to a 

 nest of doves. The plant grows in Europe, as far north 

 as Scandinavia, and in temperate Asia. 



ACONITUM 



Perennial herbs, with leaves much divided ; the 

 segments are palmate. The 5 sepals are coloured ; the 

 large upper helmet -shaped one suggests the common 

 name Monkshood. The small petals (2-5) are enclosed 

 in the sepals, the two upper forming small, irregularly- 

 spurred, honey-containing bodies on long stalks (Fig. 

 37). The stamens are numerous, and the 3-5 carpels 

 form each a several-seeded follicle. The Aconites are 

 especially adapted to humble bees, and their distribution 

 on the earth's surface coincides with that of Bombus, 

 extending over Europe, Central Asia, and parts of North 

 America. 



A. Napellus (Monkshood or Wolfsbane). — The stem 

 is strong and erect, l|-2 feet high. The dark blue 

 flowers are on erect pedicels, forming a handsome 

 terminal raceme. They are protandrous. The large 

 upper hood-like sepal is not only part of the decoration 

 of the flower, but seems to protect the two nectaries, the 

 stamens and the ovary. The three lower sepals combine 

 to protect the inner parts of the flower. The two upper 

 petals are modified into the remarkable nectaries. They 

 secrete a rich supply of honey. The humble bee alights 

 on the lower sepals, and presses into the cavity of the 

 flower, which it just fills. It thus rubs against the 

 anthers and dusts its under surface with pollen. When 

 the anthers have all shed their pollen, the pistil lengthens, 

 so as to rise into the place which the anthers previously 

 occupied. The bee, therefore, can hardly fail to dust 



