The Larkspur. 163 



the calyx, and the other sections, which contain no annuals, 

 have the appendages of two petals in the spur. In one of the 

 latter, the species are all perennials, and the petals are bearded. 

 This section is divided into the Siberian, and Bee Larkspurs. 

 The other section consists of biennials, whose petals are not 

 bearded, and whose carpels are ventricose. The leaves of all 

 the Larkspurs are poisonous, and it is said that no insect will 

 touch them. Only two or three species are natives of this 

 country, one of which, D. cxaltatum, an inhabitant of the mid- 

 dle, and rarely of the Northern United States, is a fine plant, 

 with brilliant blue flowers. 



Various kinds of the species in the plate are cultivated in gar 

 dens, and they have the advantage of flowering all summer. 

 D. grandifloruin was introduced into England, and thence into 

 this country, from Siberia, in 1816. The flowers are larger 

 than those of any other species,, and when made double by 

 cultivation, they form one of the most splendid objects in a 

 border. The sepals are of a most intense blue, spotted with 

 red, the outer spur being greenish. Two of the petals are 

 very small, upright, and fleshy ; the two others are nearly 

 round, with an oblique claw, having a small hook at the base, 

 near which is a slightly bearded yellow spot. The intense 

 metallic hue of the flower is finely contrasted with these golden 

 yellow spots. The varieties are all hardy, and are easily 

 propagated by seeds or divisions of the root. 



The flower of the Larkspur and that of the Ranunculus 

 would seem to be so widely different as to cause their position 

 in the same Natural Order a matter of surprise, which may be 

 increased by contrasting the colors of the two. Our wild 

 Ranunculus has always yellow flowers, the Larkspur never. 

 "But," says Lindley, " setting aside this, which is of no bo- 

 tanical importance whatever, let us look at the calyx of the 

 Larkspur. It is composed of five leaves, or sepals, the upper- 

 most of which has a horn arising out of its back ; so is that of 

 the Ranunculus, excepting the horn. It has four petals, of 

 which two have long tails, hidden within the horn of the 

 sepal. Ranunculus has nothing of this, but five common pet- 

 als instead. The Larkspur has a great many stamens ari- 

 sing from below the carpels : this is the first essential character 



