DELPHINIUM 



All the AquUegicB hybridize readily; indeed, the problem of 

 the growers is to keep the seeds true, for the insects hybridize them 

 and it is almost impossible to prevent it. Therefore buyers 

 should be charitable if the purchased seeds do not always come 

 true to name. 



DELPHINIUM. LARKSPUR 



Delphinium. 



Delphinium, Greek, a dolphin;- from the shape of the fiower. 



The garden race of Delphiniums are hybrids; annual or perennial 

 herbs. 



Stem. — Erect, simple or branched. 



Leaves. — Alternate, petioled, palmately divided. 



Flowers. — Borne in showy racemes or panicles, each flower starting 

 from the axil of a slender bract. 



Calyx. — Five petal-like sepals, grown together, the upper one pro- 

 duced as a long spur behind. 



Petals. — Two to four; the two upper with spurs which lie within the 

 spur of the sep^ the lateral ones when present small and spurless. 



Stamens. — Many. 



Pistil. — One in the annual forms; three in the perennials; forming 

 many-seeded pods. 



Our garden Delphiniums are hybrids and may be divided into 

 two well-marked groups: the annuals and the perennials. The 

 annuals are largely descended from Delphinium Ajacis. 



Most of the highly bred Delphiniums are the result of crossing 

 Delphinium elatum, the old continental form, with Delphinium 

 formdsum, which brings in the pale-blues, and with Delphinium 

 grandiflbrum, which gives size. Scarlet flowers indicate a strain of • 

 Calif ornian blood. 



Delphiniums double so easily, hybridize so readily, respond to 

 environment so quickly that the genesis of any hybrid can only 

 be established by record. The gardener's ideal has been the full- 

 flowered spike with a goodly range of colors on the chord of blue. 

 Other colors seem by-products; we think of Larkspur as blue. 



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