SPERMATOPHYTA— RANUNCULACEAE 463 



fuse sweating. The increased perspiration may have been due in part to the violent 

 spasms in which the animals finally died. Death occurred about four hours after the 

 appearance of the first symptoms. No remedy was applied in these cases. 



Delphinium scopulorum Gray 



A glabrous or finely pubescent perennial with leafy stem 1-6 feet high from 

 fascicled thick roots ; leaves numerous orbicular, 5-7, parted, lower cuneate, 

 and the upper consisting of narrow, cleft, and laciniate divisions ; racemes 

 many-flowered, sparingly pilose, flowers blue varying to white or pink on short 

 erect pedicels; spur longer than sepals, lower petals deeply notched, and upper 

 whitish, and a little shorter than the oblong sepals; folUcles about half an inch 

 long, erect, seeds small, with a loose coat. 



Delphinium occidentale Watson. Tall Larkspur 



A glandular pubescent perennial from 4-6 feet high; leaves deeply 3-5 

 cleft, divisions broadly cuneate, somewhat 3-lobed ; flowers numerous in a many- 

 flowered sparingly-branched panicle; sepals spatulate, acuminate; dull or dark 

 blue, very variable in size ; seeds light colored, and somewhat spongy. 



Distribution. At higher altitudes from Colorado to Eastern Oregon, and 

 Nevada. 



Delphinium trolliifolium Gray. California Cow Poison, or Poisonous Larkspur 



A tall smooth perennial, 2-5 feet high, sparingly villous, hairy; leaves large, 

 long, petioled, 5-7 lobed, lobes lacinately cleft and toothed with acuminate seg- 

 ments; flowers large in loose racemes; color bright blue, 1J4 inches broad, 

 spur as long as the sepals ; sepals oblong-lanceolate, acuminate, sparingly vil- 

 lous, follicles smooth, 6-8 lines long, seeds turbinate. 



Distribution. Common along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to 

 California. 



Poisonous properties. Prof. Chesnut says : "In Humboldt County, Cal., 

 it is known as Cow Poison on account of its fatal effect on cattle. Its toxic 

 character has been questioned. Perhaps it is not equally poisonous throughout 

 all stages of its growth." 



Delphinium tricorne Michx 



A simple stout perennial 6 inches-2 feet high, with a cluster of roots; 

 leaves slender, petioled, deeply S-7-cleft, or divided ; the divisions Unear or ovate ; 

 flowers in loose racemes, blue, occasionally white or purple; spur slightly 

 bent. Follicles tipped with a short beak. 



Distribution. In open rich woods or clay soil, Western Pennsylvania to 

 Southeastern Iowa to Arkansas and Georgia. 



Poisonous properties. The Stavesacre (Delphinium Staphisagria) of Italy 

 and Greece to Asia Minor has long been used in medicine, having been 

 known to the ancients. Pliny mentions the use of the powdered seeds for 

 destroying vermin on the head. It is still largely used for destroying pediculi. 

 The eclectic physicians use it for its specific action on the reproductive organs. 

 The disease produced by Delphinium may be called delphinosis. 



According to Prof. Hills, Stavesacre and D. Consolida are used in the 

 treatment of dropsy and spasmodic asthma. The effects produced are due to 



