Part II. AQUILEGIA. 147 



districts, and in good free soil, it will prove a first-class border 

 plant. Distinguished from A. vulgaris by the stamens being 

 longer than the petals, and by its larger flowers. 



AQUILEGIA O^RTJLEA. — Rocky Mountain Columbine. 



This native of the Rocky Mountains is as beautiful as it is 

 distinct ; and that it has the latter quality will be apparent 

 when I state that the spurs of the flower are almost as slender 

 as a thread, a couple' of inches long, with a tendency to twist 

 round each other, and with green tips. But it is in the blue and 

 white erect flower that the beauty lies, the effect being even 

 better than in the blue and white form of the alpine Columbine. 

 It is a hardy herbaceous perennial, flowers rather early in sum- 

 mer, continuing a long time in flower. I have seen it flowering 

 freely on very sandy soil In an exposed spot in Suifolk so late as 

 September. It grows about from nine inches to fifteen inches 

 high, and is worthy of the choicest position on the rockwork ; 

 is easier of culture than any of the other rare kinds, and is 

 therefore suitable for the front margin of the choice mixed 

 border, where the soil is sandy and deep, and not too wet in 

 winter. Increased freely from seeds, and also by division. It 

 was long lost to cultivation, but was reintroduced a few years 

 since by Mr. Wm. Thompson, of Ipswich, whom we have to 

 thank for distributing some of our most beautiful hardy plants. 



AQUILEGrIA GLANDTJLOSA. — Glandular Columbine. 



A VERY beautiful species, with handsome blue and white flowers, 

 and a tufted habit. Flowers in early summer — a fine blue, with 

 the tips of the petals creamy-white, the spur curved backwards 

 towards the stalk, the sepals dark blue, large, and nearly oval, 

 with a long footstalk. Leaves much divided, the upper part of 

 the stem covered with glandular hairs. A native of the Altai 

 Mountains, and one of the most desirable kinds for the rock- 

 garden, or the select border, in well-drained deep sandy soil. 

 Increased by seed and by very careful division of the fleshy 

 roots, when the plant is in full leaf. Mr. Wm. Jennings informs 

 me that, if divided when it is at rest, the roots are almost 

 certain to perish, at least on cold soils. 



A.pyrenaica, much dwarfer than the preceding, and therefore 

 suitable for rockwork, but not so attractive in point of colour ; 



L 2 



