46 FLOEA INDICA. [Ranuticulacea . 



viewing Aquilegia aa a very large geuus, containing upwards of thirty well-marked 

 species, we trust that they will not be rejected without due consideration, and a 

 careful study of large series of specimens, both dried and in a botanical garden. 

 Many botanists to whom we have shown the extensive series of specimens in the 

 Hookerian Herbarium, have been surprised at the amount of variation exhibited, and 

 at the intricate interlacing, so to speak, of the different characters by which their 

 separation into well characterized species is rendered impossible. "We have devoted 

 weeks to the study of these plants, in the hope of arriving at some definite results, 

 and we shall be only too happy to have characters pointed out to us on which con- 

 fidence may be placed. Those at present given in books fail completely in practice. 



1. A. vulgaris (L. Sp. 752) ; foliis biternatim sectis, lobis varie 

 incisis, sessilibus vel petiolatis, sepalis genitalia superantibus, petalorum 

 calcaribus sensim atteuuatis. 



a. normalis; sabglabra vel pubeseens, sepalis ovatis obtusiusculis, 

 calcaribus petalorum laminas subssquantibus validis. — A. vulgaris, DC. 

 Syst. i. 334, Prod. i. 50; Ledeb. M. Ross. i. 55; Seich. Ic. Oerm. t. 

 Hi. A. atrata, Koch, Fl. Gem. A. Sternbergii, Beick. Ic. Fl. Germ, 

 t. 118. A. Pyrenaioa, Reich. Ic. Germ. t. 117 {non aliorum). 



/3. viscosa ; glandulosa, pubesoeas, floribus ut in a. — A. viscosa, 

 Gouan; BO. Syst. i. 335, Prod. i. 50. 



y. pubiflora; moUiter pubeseens, sepalis ovato-laneeolatis saepe atte- 

 uuatis, calcaribus abbreviatis incurvis. — A. pubiflora, Wall. Cat. 4714 ! ; 

 Royle! III. 54. A. nigricans, iJeicA. 7c. Genre. <. 115. A. viscosa, iSwcA. 

 ib. t. 116. 



S. yrandifiora ; pubeseens vel glandulosa, sepaUs ovalibus acutius- 

 culis vel obtusis, calcaribus crassis reotis vel incurvis, foliis plerumque 

 profunde incisis. — A. alpina, L. Sp. 753 ; DC. Syst. i. 836, Prod. i. 50 ; 

 Deless. Ic. set. i. t. 48. A. glandulosa, i1(«c/z.; DC. Prod. i. 50; Sweet, 

 Fl. Gard. i. t. 55 ; Ledeb. Fl. Ross. i. 56. A. jucunda, F. et M. Ind. 

 Sort. Pet.; Ledeb. Fl. Ross. i. 736. 



e. Pyrenaica ; moUiter pubeseens vel glandulosa, sepalis ovatis acu- 

 tis, calcaribus elongatis gracUibus rectis vel incurvis. — A. Pyrenaica, 

 DO. Syst. i. 337, Prod. i. 50. A. leptoceras, Lindl. Bot. Reg. 1847, 

 t. 64. A. Kanawerensis, Camb. in Jacq. Voy. Bot. t. 5; Hook. Bot. 

 Mag. 4693. A. glandulosa, Kuowles et TFestcott, Bot. Cab. i. t. 10. 

 A. glauca, Lindl. Bot. Reg. xiii. t. 46. A. fragrans, Benth. in the 

 Botanist, iv. 1. 181. A. Moorcroftiana, Wall. Cat. 4713 !; Royle! III. 54. 

 A. Olympica, Boissier! Ann. So. Nat. xvi. 360. 



Hab. In Himalaya ocoidentali temperata et alpina. a. In jugis in- 

 terioribus ! /3. In Himalaya Tibetica ! y. In jugis exterioribus vul- 

 garis, a Kumaon ! ad Kashmir ! ; in interioribus in a. transiens. 8. In 

 montibus Balti, TFinterbottom ! Kumaon, Trail. I e. in Himalayse al- 

 pibus et per Tibetiam oeeidentalem inter 10-14,000 ped. alt. vulgaris! 



DisTKiB. Europa et Asia temp. 



It must not be supposed that the varieties indicated above are in any way con- 

 stant. On the contrary, it will be found that they pass into one another in every 

 possible way, and the botanist must expect to find many specimens which he will 

 have great difficulty in referring to any of the forms characterized. 



