112 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS, 
spikes of blue, purple-blue, and white or yellow flowers. 
There are many species, all handsome perennials. 
All of them are violent poisons when taken into the 
system, but harmless to handle. The root is more active 
than the other parts of the plant, and has sometimes been 
eaten by mistake, with fatal effects, and death has occurred 
from eating the young shoots in salad. The plants are 
used in medicine. 
Aconitum Napéilus.—W olfsbane, or Monkshood.—Is a 
well-known inhabitant of the garden, flowering in July 
and August. It is increased by parting the roots, which 
are of a tuberous character, every piece of which will 
grow. This should be done soon after they have finished 
flowering; the stalks should be cut down at the same 
time. They like shade and moisture. 
A, variegatum.—Is a beautiful species, throwing up 
spikes with branches, continuing in bloom a long time. 
Flowers, light-blue, edged with white; 3 feet high. 
A. Japénicum, from Japan, has dark-blue flowers, in 
spikes 3 or 4 feet high; a handsome plant. 
A. Siebéldi, has large blue flowers, which are produced 
on spikes two feet high, and one of the latest flowering. 
A. rostratum, is a very tall growing species, 4 or 5 feet 
high, with dark-purple flowers on lax panicles. 
A. uncinatum, a North American species, except in fo- 
liage resembles A. Japonicum. There are many other 
species, all hardy and handsome. 
ACROCLINIUM. 
Acroclinium réseum, and its varieties atro-roseum and 
album, are very pretty half-hardy annuals; with light 
rose, dark rose, or pure white flowers. These are “im- 
