14 
A natural genus, consisting chiefly of mountain plants, spread over 
the greater part of Europe and central Asia, represented also in northern 
America by a very few species. ‘T'wo or three exotic species are often 
cultivated in our perennial borders. 
1, A. Napellus, Linn. (fig. 30). Monkshood, or Wolfsbane.-—Stem 
firm and erect, 14 to 2 feet high. Leaves stalked, or the upper ones 
nearily sessile, of a dark-green, glabrous or slightly downy, divided to 
the base into 5 or 7 deeply cut, linear, pointed segments. Flowers 
large, dark blue, on erect pedicels, forming a handsome, dense, terminal 
raceme. The upper helmet-shaped sepal at first conceals the lateral 
ones, but is ultimately thrown back. Spur of the-small upper petals 
short, conical, and more or less bent downwards. Carpels 3, often 
slightly united at the base. 
In moist pastures and thickets and waste places, in mountainous 
districts, in Europe and temperate Asia, extending northwards into 
Scandinavia, and eastwards to the Himalaya. In Britain apparently wild 
in some shady places in western England and South Wales. Fl. summer. 
XII. ACTAA. BANEBERRY. : 
Perennial herbs, with the leaves chiefly radical, their stalk divided, 
the segments or leaflets distinct. Sepals 4, small, petal-like. Petals 4, 
small, distinctly clawed. Stamens numerous, as long as or longer than 
the petals, with small anthers. Carpel solitary, becoming a berry when 
ripe, with several seeds. 
A small genus, spread over the northern hemisphere, with much of 
the general habit of Z’halictrum, but differing in the presence of both 
sepals and petals, in the anthers, and fruit. 
1. A. spicata, Linn. (fig. 31). Baneberry, Herb Christopher. —Radical 
leaves large, not unlike those of several Umbellifers, the stalk usually 
twice divided into 3 or 5 pinnately arranged branches, the segments or 
leaflets ovate, pointed, often 8-lobed and coarsely toothed, of a deep 
green, and quite glabrous. Stem 1 to 2 feet high, with few leaves, 
much smaller than the radical ones. Flowers small, nearly white, in a 
short, loose, oblong, terminal raceme. Berries small, nearly black. 
In mountain woods and pastures, in central and eastern Europe, 
Russian Asia, and northern America, extending to the Arctic circle. 
In Britain very local, and only in northern England. Fl. May. 
XIV. PAONIA. PONY. 
Large perennials, the leaves chiefly radical, with divided stalks and 
distinct segments. or leaflets, the flowers large and handsome. Sepals 
5, herbaceous. Petals 5 or more, much larger. Stamens numerous, 
inserted on fleshy disk. Carpels 2 to 5, each with several seeds. 
A very distinct genus, consisting of but very few species, indigenous 
in southern Europe and temperate Asia. 
1. P. officinalis, Linn. (fig. 32). Common P.—Rootstock emitting a 
cluster of thick tuberous roots. Stem 1 to 2 feet high. Radical leaves 
twice ternate, the segments ovate, entire or divided into two or three 
deep lobes. Flowers deep red. Carpels large and thick, Back dower: 
and, when ripe, more or less recurved, 
