CROWFOOT FAMILY. Ranunculaceae. 



Fall Larks ur A slender and smooth species of larkspur 

 Delphinium found in the woods from Pennsylvania 

 exaltatum southward. The deep green leaves have 

 Light violet generally five divergent, lance-shaped or 

 July-August wedge-shaped lobes, and the light purple 

 or blue-violet flowers are borne in a slim spike some- 

 times 10 inches long. 2-6 feet high. In woods, from 

 Allegheny and Huntington Cos., Pa., south to N. Car., 

 and west to Minn, and Neb. The Delphiniums are 

 mostly fertilized by the beelike flies, honeybees, and 

 bumblebees. 



Field Larks ur A Eur P ean sp 66 ^, in cultivation and 

 Delphinium escaped to roadsides and fields, with dis- 

 Consolida sected deep green leaves having very 



Lilac to ultra- narrow linear lobes, and a scattered 

 marine blue fl owel -spike of showy flowers 1 inch 

 July-August , 



broad, long-spurred, and varying in color 



from pale magenta, lilac, and purple to ultramarine 

 blue. The commoner species in cultivation is D. Ajacis, 

 with larger flower-clusters and with woolly pods ; this 

 has also sparingly escaped. 12-30 inches high. South- 

 ern N. J., Pa., and south. 



A handsome wild flower, slender- 

 M c^inn d st emme( l. weak, and disposed to seek sup- 

 itncinatiim port. The delicate character of the plant 

 Violet- is not unlike that of the columbine. The 



ultramarine deep green leaves are toothed, have 3-5 

 lobes, and are rather thick. The purple 

 or violet-ultramarine flowers are composed 

 of 5 sepals, the upper one enlarged, forming the hood, 

 and 2 petals (three more are stamenlike. abortive, and 

 inconspicuous) concealed beneath the hood ; the stamens 

 are numerous. Undoubtedly the flower is largely ferti- 

 lized by the bumblebee who is its constant visitor : the 

 stamens ripen before the pistils, and cross-fertilization is 

 thus insured. 2-4 feet high. In woods, southern N. J. 

 and Pa., and south along the Alleghanies to Ga. 



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