Aconitum.] ftANUNCDLACEiE. ir 



anthers pale yellow, broadly elliptical, very flat, bursting alonp their edges. 

 Ovaries very dowuy, tapering into the 6 long, simple, erect styles, which a very lit- 

 tle exceed the inner stamens in length. Capsules 5, erect, cylindrical, a little 

 downy, very clammy when green, strongly reticulated when ripe. Seeds nume- 

 rous, oblong, gibbous at the back, acutely keeled and margined, jet-black and 

 highly polished, attached in a double row along the dehiscent suture. 



The Columbine is undoubtedly indigenous to our hilly woods and thickets, 

 more sparingly and sporadically dispersed in the low grounds, where the plant 

 is perhaps often an escape from cultivation. 



The singularly close resemblance in the flowers of this plant to a group of birds 

 has given rise to the English name of Columbines, from Columba, a dove ; and 

 the Latin generic one of Aquilegia may with as much probability have been 

 intended to designate a gathering together of eagles, from the same bird-like con- 

 formation and grouping. There is however reason to suppose that the term Aqui- 

 legia may be simply the old Latin word Aquilegium slightly altered in termina- 

 tion, and which signifies a gathering or collecting of water (dew or viin) ab aqua 

 et lego, a purpose for which the hollow or tubular processes or spurs (nectaries) 

 of the petals seem well fitted, and in fact they are seldom found without a self- 

 secreted honied liquid, which in earlier times may have been mistaken for such 

 aqueous deposit. Rejecting these etymologies, it will be difficult to account for 

 the length of the derivative from so simple a root, assuming the allusion to be 

 merely to the resemblance, as has been asserted, by no means obvious, of the blunt 

 nectaries to the sharp claws of a bird of prey. The word Aquilegia as altered and 

 applied to our plant is not of classical antiquity, though the species must have 

 been well known to the ancients by some other name, as it is a native of most 

 parts of Europe. 



X. Delphinium, Linn. Larkspur. 



Calyx deciduous, of 5 irregular, coloured, petaloid sepals, the 

 uppermost sepal produced at base with a spur. Petals 4, the two 

 upper with spur-like appendages which are included in the spur 

 of the calyx ; free or combined into one. Follicles 1, 3, or 5, 

 mostly many-seeded. 



Showy annual, biennial or perennial plants, with bright blue, purple, pink or 

 white (never yellow) flowers. Geographical distribution the same as Aconitum, 

 which this genus closely approaches in character, habit and foliage, but its sen- 

 sible properties are far inferior in energy, few of the species possessing much acti- 

 vity as poisons. 



1. D. Gonsolida, L. Field Larkspur. " Stem erect branched, 

 flowers in lax racemes, petals combined, inner spur of one piece, 

 pedicels shorter than the bracteas, foUicle one glabrous." — Br. 

 Fl. p. 12. E. B. t. 1839. 



In sandy or chalky cornfields occasionally, but very rarely. Fl. June, July. 0. 



Cornfields above the Underclifi", Mrs. Cope. In a cornfield at Westbrook, 

 Albert Hamborough, Esq. ! Sandy cornfield between Blackgang and Chale, Miss 

 Kirkpatrick, 



XT. Aconitum, Linn. Aconite, Wolf's-bane. 



Sepals 5, petaloid, coloured, irregular, the upper one hooded or 

 helmet-shaped. Petals (nectaries, Sm.) 2 (the 3 lowermost want- 

 ing or rudimentary), stipitate, tui)ular, concealed in the galeate 

 upper segment of the calyx. 



D 



