22 



THE RANUNCULUS FAMILY. 



dinavia. In Britain, often introduced, but now not uncommon, and 

 believed to be really indigenous in several counties of England, Ireland, 

 and southern Scotland. Fl. early summer. In our gardens it sports* 

 much in the forms and colours assumed by the flowers. 



The Canada C. (A. canadensis), and some other exotic species, are 

 occasionally cultivated in our flower-gardens. 



XI. LARKSPUR. DELPHINIUM. 



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 the Columbines and the 

 Aconites, by the peculiar irregularities of the calyx and corolla. 



1. Field Larkspur. Delphinium Consolida, Linn. (Fig. 28.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1839.) 



An erect annual, not above a foot 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 seg- 

 ments. Mowers blue, or sometimes red- 

 dish or white, not numerous, in loose ra- 

 cemes, forming sometimes an irregular 

 panicle. Spur of the calyx as long as the 

 rest of the flower (each about 6 lines). 

 Petals two only, their appendages united 

 on the under side into an inner spur 

 open along its upper edge. Carpel soli- 

 tary. 



A common weed of cultivation in the 



greater part of Europe and Russian Asia, 



and probably of south European origin. 



In Britain, abundant only in some of the eastern counties, but appearing 



occasionally in cornfields in other parts of England. Fl. with the corn, 



or later on the stubble. 



The common annual Larkspur of our gardens will also occasionally 



Fig. 28. 



