324 The Rafnia. 



Mexico and Guatemala, being farther south than any oth 

 species yet discovered. It is readily known by the 

 length of its spurs, which are nearly two inches long; and h 

 its numerous and projecting stamens. The styles are generall 

 only three, and the flowers are drooping. This species w 

 introduced into England in 1840, and is there considered th 

 finest of the genus. 



A, fragrans is another very fine Columbine, with large and 

 delightfully fragrant flowers. It is a native of the north of 

 India. 



There are several other handsome and curious species 

 which are in cultivation ; but none of them are more worthy 

 of admiration than the delicate species, A. Canadensis, which 

 grows wild in nearly all the United States. It is generally 

 found in rocky places, on the sides of hills ; and its beautiful 

 flowers, scarlet without, and yellow within, with their numer- 

 ous stamens, appearing as they do in early spring, form one of 

 the chief ornaments of a season when few other plants are in 

 bloom. All the Columbines are easily cultivated, requiring 

 generally a light soil, and not too much water. They are 

 propagated by seed, or by division of the roots. 



RAFNIA— THE RAFNIA. 



Natural Order, Leguminosaj ; Linnaeao System, Monadelphia, Decandria. 

 Generic Character: — Calyx five-lobed, lower lobe narrowest, setaceous 

 and very acute ; keel of the corolla obtuse ; vexillum, roundish ; legume 

 lanceolate, compressed, many-seeded ; leaves simple, entire, alternate, 

 the floral ones sometimes opposite ; flowers yellow ; stamens moua- 

 delphous. 



R. triflora. — Leaves ovate, sessile, glabrous ; branches angular ; peduncles 

 lateral, one-flowered, but growing in threes. — PL 45. 



The plants belonging to this genus have been separated 

 from Crotalaria by De Candolle, and formed by him into a 

 new genus, named in honor of Professor Rafn, a German bot- 

 anist. R. triflora is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, and 



