14 



DELPHINIUM PUNICEUM. 



which, if sown in the spring where they are to remain, will flower well the following 

 season, and make better plants than those obtained by dividing. 



Its generic name Delphinium is derived from the Greek Delphin, a dolphin ; 

 the unexpanded flowers having been supposed to resemble the imaginary figures 

 of the dolphin ; while in some of the species they have been compared to the spurs 

 of larks, whence the English name of Larkspur. The specific name of our present 

 plant, punicerim, is from the Latin puniceus, signifying purple, in reference to the 

 colour of the flowers. 



The genus Delphinium contains about 53 species, natives of Europe, Asia, 

 Africa, and America; some of which are annual, some perennial, but none shrubby. 

 Many of them have long been favourites in our gardens ; a distinction to which 

 they are justly entitled by the curiously irregular shape, and the rich and various 

 colours of their flowers. The leaves and stalks of the Delphinia are acrid, and 

 the seeds poisonous. Those of the Delphinium consolida (our only British 

 species) are said to have been employed in the preparation of certain cosmetics, 

 which, although apparently efficacious, are found, eventually, to be very injurious 

 to the skin. A tincture of the seeds has been found serviceable in asthma, but, 

 like many medicines of a similar character, requires to be used with caution. 

 Another species, the Delphinium staphisagria, has been used in the treatment of 

 cutaneous eruptions ; it was also formerly administered internally, but, in conse- 

 quence of its dangerous character, has been discarded from modern practice. 

 The active properties of the Delphinia are found to depend upon a peculiar 

 alkaloid principle, to which has been given the name of Delphine. 



Fig. 1, upper petal ; 2, lower petal; 3, capsules. 



