24 KEY TO THE SPECIES 



ing lip and produced backward into large hollow spurs much longer than the 

 calyx, numerous stamens, and 5 pistils becoming erect follicles. 



1. Aquilegia cserulea James (Blue Columbine). Glabrous, a-8 dm, high; 

 leaves mostly radical, glaucous below, the leaflets lobed ; flowers large, varying 

 from blue to white ; the spurs long and slender. This beautiful plant is the " State 

 flower" of Colorado, and is said by gardeners to be the handsomest Columbine in 

 the world. It is abundant in moist woods in the mountains. 



2. Aquilegia chrysantha Gray (Yellow Columbine). Taller and more 

 slender, with peduncles often pubescent ; flowers bright yellow, the spurs very 

 slender. Wet ravines in mountains ; Colorado and southward. 



3. DELPHINIUM (Larkspur) 



Herbs with palmately divided leaves, flowers in terminal racemes, 5 petal-like 

 sepals (the upper one prolonged into a spur at the base), 4 petals (the upper pair 

 continued backward into long spurs inclosed in the calyx spur), numerous 

 stamens, and 3 pistils becoming many-seeded pods. (See Plant Structures, p. 260, 

 Fig. 244.) 



1. Delpbinium scopulorum Gray (Mountain Larkspur). Tall, 1 m. more 

 or less, branching above ; leaves 5-7-parted, each lobe again cleft or parted, the 

 divisions from lanceolate to narrowly linear ; inflorescence minutely ciuereous- 

 pubescent ; flowers blue ; ovaries minutely pubescent. Moist open woods, 



2. Delphinium Geyeri Greene (Geyer's Larkspur. Poison-weed). A 

 tufted perennial with numerous thick flbrous-woody roots, canescently tomentose, 

 3-6 dm. high ; root-leaves numerous, stem-leaves few (especially upward), all cleft 

 into many linear divisions ; flowers in a strict raceme, blue, with a stoutish spur. 

 Common on the plains, where the dense tufts of root-leaves appear in early 

 spring, offering a tempting mouthful to hungry cattle ; sometimes eaten with 

 fatal results. 



3. Delphinium Nelsonii Greene (Nelson's Larkspur). Perennial from a. 

 cluster of tuberous roots ; stem slender, nearly simple, 1-3 dm. high, finely pubes- 

 cent ; leaves cleft into broadly linear divisions ; flowers blue, somewhat pubescent, 

 the lower petal 2-clef t, with a tuft of hair near the middle. Common in the loose 

 soil of draws in the foothills. 



4. ACONITUM (Monkshood) 



Erect perennial herbs with showy flowers ; sepals 5, petal-like ; stamens 

 numerous. 



1. Aconitum Columbianum Nutt. (Mountain Monkshood). Stem 1 m. or 

 more high, pubescent above, with short viscid hairs ; leaves large, the lobes 

 toothed or cut ; flowers purple, in a loose raceme. Moist open woods. 



5. ANEMONE (Anemone) 



Erect perennial herbs ; radical leaves petioled, lobed or parted ; those of the 

 stem forming an involucre ; stamens numerous ; achenes compressed, pointed . 



1. Anemone Canadensis L. (Canada Anemone). Somewhat pubescent; 

 leaves large, 5-7-cleft, and the lobes more or less toothed : those of the involucres 

 similar but sessile ; flowers solitary, on bifurcate peduncles with secondary invo- 

 lucres ; sepals large and white ; achenes flat, nearly glabrous, in globose heads. 

 Common on the banks of streams. 



