Aquilegia.] I. RANUNCULACEJE. 13 



three times ternately divided, the segments broad, 3-lobed, and crenate, 

 of a glaucous-green, glabrous, or with a few hairs underneath. Flower- 

 stem 1J to 2 feet or more high, bearing a loose panicle with a few leaves 

 at its ramifications much less divided than the lower ones. Flowers 

 large, drooping, blue, or of a dull purple. 



In coppices and open woods in Europe and temperate Asia, extending 

 northwards into Scandinavia, and eastwards to the Himalaya. In 

 Britain often introduced, but believed to be indigenous in several 

 counties of England, Ireland, and southern Scotland. Fl. early summer. 

 In gardens it sports much in the form and colour of the flowers. 



The A. Canadensis, and some other exotic species, are occasionally 

 cultivated in our flower-gardens. 



XI. DELPHINIUM. LARKSPUR. 



Annual or perennial herbs, with much divided leaves, the segments 

 usually palmate and narrow. Sepals 5, coloured, terminating below in 

 a hollow spur. Petals, in the British species 2, combined into 1, which 

 is lengthened into a spur within that of the calyx ; in some exotic species 

 the petals are 4, the two upper ones forming a spur. Carpels 1 to 5, 

 each with several seeds. 



A considerable genus, widely spread over the northern hemisphere 

 without the tropics. It is as well marked as Aquilegia and Aconitum, by 

 the peculiar irregularities of the calyx and corolla. 



1. D. Ajacis, Linn. (fig. 29). Common L. — An erect annual, 1 to 1J 

 feet high, glabrous or slightly hairy, the branches few and spreading. 

 Radical leaves shortly stalked, the stem ones sessile, all divided into 

 fine, linear, deeply cut segments. Flowers showy blue, reddish or 

 white, not numerous, in terminal racemes, forming sometimes an 

 irregular panicle. Spur of the calyx as long as the rest of the flower 

 or rather shorter (each about 6 lines). Petals 2 only, their appen- 

 dages united on the under side into an inner spur open along its upper 

 edge. Carpel solitary, glabrous or pubescent. 



A native of the east Mediterranean region, long cultivated in Europe, 

 has become a common weed of cornfields. In Britain in Cambridge- 

 shire, but appears occasionally in cornfields in other parts of England. 

 In the first edition of this work, as in the earlier British Floras, the 

 Continental D. Consolida had been described for this. Fl. with the corn, 

 or later, on the stubble. Some marks at the base of the united petals, 

 which have been compared to the letters A I A I, have given rise to the 

 name of D. Ajacis. Some larger perennial species are also cultivated in 

 flower-gardens. 



XII. ACONITUM. ACONITE. 



Perennial herbs, with much divided leaves, the segments palmate. 

 Sepals 5, coloured, the upper one helmet-shaped, the two lateral ones 

 broader than the two lower. Petals 2 to 5, concealed within the calyx, 

 the two upper ones forming small and irregular spurred bodies, on 

 long stalks within the upper sepal, the three lower very small and 

 linear, or wanting. Stamens numerous. Carpels 3 to 5, each with 

 several seeds. 



