S3 



DELPHINIUM TRISTE. 



(Dark-flowered Larkspur.) 

 LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



POLYANDKIA FOLYGYNIA. RANUNCULACE^E. — (JuSS. Decand. Syst. i. p. 127.) 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 



Delphinium. (Toubn.) Calyx deciduus, petaloideus, irregularis, sepalo nempe superiore in 

 calcar deorsum producto. Petala 4 ; 2 superiora basi in appendicibus intra calcar contentis pro- 

 ducta. — (Decand. Syst. i. p. 340.) 



Calyx deciduous, petal-like, irregular, the upper sepal being prolonged downwards into a 

 spur. Petals 4, the two upper ones prolonged at their base into appendages contained within 

 the spur. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 



D. triste ; petiolis basi vix dilatatis ; foliis 3-5 partitis ; lobis angustis, inciso-subpinnatifidis, 

 acutis ; summis 3-partitis ; lobis integris ; racemo laxo subramoso ; calcare curvulo, obtuso ; caule, 

 floribus, pedicellis bracteolatis, capsulisque pubescentibus. 



Petioles scarcely dilated at the base ; leaves 3-5 parted ; lobes narrow, somewhat inciso-pin- 

 natifid, acute ; upper leaves 3-parted ; lobes entire ; raceme loose, somewhat branched ; spur a 

 little curved, obtuse ; stem, flowers, bracteolated pedicels, and capsules downy. 



Delphinium obscurum. — Stev. 



Descr. — A hardy, perennial, herbaceous plant, attaining the height of about three feet ; 

 leaves dark green ; flower-stems slender, erect, occasionally branched ; flowers somewhat dis- 

 tant, Avith long pedicels which become gradually shorter towards the top of the raceme ; bracteas 

 (bracteolce) minute, lanceolate, two or three upon each pedicel. The flowers are of a dark brown, 

 slightly tinged with puce, with a few streaks of jet black, appearing, before expansion, of a 

 dusky purple ; they are densely hairy, the pubescence on the inner surface being pale or hoary. 



We introduce this remarkable species of Delphinium to the notice of our 

 readers, rather on account of its rarity than for the sake of its beauty, which, it must 

 be confessed, is by no means dazzling ; yet, like many other plants whose aspect is 

 equally unattractive, it will be found not unworthy of a closer examination. The 

 florist may look upon it with an eye of indifference, or perhaps of contempt ; but 

 the botanist will regard it with that degree of interest which a vegetable novelty 

 (more especially if a native of a distant country) never fails to excite in the 

 mind of every accurate observer of nature. 



VOL. II. NO. XV. MAY, 1838. F 



