48 FLORA INDICA. [Raimnculacea . 



We have therefore avoided, in all doabtfttl cases, identifying the Indian species with 

 those of other countries, though we think it probable that, on a revision of the genus 

 with good materials, several of them will be found to agree with already known 

 species. We are satisfied indeed that the greater part of the described forms will 

 then be reduced to a few common types. 



The Indian Delphinia are mostly Himalayan, but one or two Persian forms ex- 

 tend as far east as the Panjab. One has been found in tropical India, but not 

 further south than the northern part of the Siadri mountaios, whence it extends 

 westwards to Abyssinia. One of the Himalayan species inhabits a very humid cli- 

 mate, and extends into the higher parts of the Khasia hills, but in general these 

 plants seem to prefer the drier climates of western India. Several species are alpine, 

 and these form a very peculiar group, with large half-closed membranous flowers, 

 remarkable in general for their strong odour of musk, whence the mountaineers 

 erroneously suppose that the musk-deer feeds on them, and thereby communicates 

 the peculiar odour to its glandular secretion. 



Sect. 1. CoNSOLlDA, DC. — Ovarium 1. Petala in unum calca- 

 ratum coalita. — Species annua. [We omit Delphinium Ajacis, 

 L. (Wall. Cat. 4730 ! ; W. et A. Prod. i. 4. D. pauciflorum, 

 W. et A. Prod. i. 4 ; vix Don) which is only cultivated in 

 India.] 



1. D. camptocarpum (Pisch. etMey. in Led. PL Eoss.i. 58, 37); 

 caule rigido ramosiasimo, foliis trisectis, caulinis sessilibus, segmentis 

 fere integris. — D. Persicum et Aueheri, Boissier ! Ann. Sc. Nat. xvi. 

 362. 



Hab. In montibus Beluchistan supra 5000 ped., Stocks! Afghani- 

 stan, Griff. No. 1376!— (».«.) 



DiSTKiB. Persia ! Asia Caspica ! 



Sadix annua, perpendicularis. Caulis pedalis vel J-pedalis, ramosissimus, ramis 

 rigidis divaricatis foliosis, glaber vel incano-puberulus, vel supeme breviter viscoso- 

 pilosus. Folia trisecta : segmenta radicalium tripartita vel trifida, cauKnorum sessi- 

 lium oblongo-cuneata pollicai'ia trideutata integrave. Flores longe racemosi, violacei. 

 Pedicelli patentes stricti, prope basin bracteolis 2-3 minutis linearibus muniti. Sepala 

 oblonga, obtusa, -^-pollicaria, posticum in calcar cylindricum obtusum rectum adscen- 

 dens ^-poUicare productum. Petala in coroUam monopetalam 4-nervem calcaratam 

 coalita, calcar cum calcare sepali postici subconforme et in eo inclusum. Folliculus 

 1 subrecurvus, obtusus, stylo persistente coronatus, transversim rugosiis, glaber vel 

 hirsntus. 



A plant with a very well marked habit, but varying much in degree of pubescence, 

 and to a certain extent in the length of the fruit. It seems to be widely distributed 

 in the hot deserts of western Asia. 



Sect. 3. Delphinasteum, DC. — Ovaria 3-7. Petala 4, postioa 

 calcarata, antioa pilosa vel barbata. 



3. D. penicillatum (Boissier, Ann. So. Nat. xvi. 369) ; caule paii- 

 cifoliato, foliis 5-partitis, segmentis inciso-pinnatifidis lobis linearibus, 

 racemis elongatis multifloris subsimplicibus, pedicellis flora parvo bre- 

 vioribus, calcare apice dilatato obtusissimo incurvo. 



Hab. In montibus aridis Indiae bor. occ. : Beluchistan, Stocks, No. 

 994 ! Panjab prope Rawal Pindi, Vicary! Marri, Memingt Kash- 

 mir prope Baramula, Wint.l Banahal ! — (PI. Apr. Mai.) [v. v.) 



