CEO^FOOT FAMILY. 



33 



cfark bearded petals folded up in such a way as to resemble an insect in 

 the centre of the flower. 



7. ACOXI'TUM, Tournef, Monkshood. 



[The ancient name.] 



Sepals petal-like, irregular, the upper one hooded and larger than the 

 others. Petals 2 (the Slower entirely wanting or resembling sterile 

 stamens), small spur-shaped bodies on a long slender daw, concealed 

 under the hood. Pistils 3-5. Pccfs several-seeded. Acrid and poison- 

 ous pei-ennial herbs with palmately divided leaves, and racemes or pani- 

 cles of &}iovfj fiowers. 



A. Napel'lus, L. Flowers race- 

 mose on short pedicels ; hooded 

 sepal semicircular ; divisions of the 

 leaves parted into Hnear lobes ; root 

 fusiform ; flowers blue. 

 Monkshood. TTolfsbane. Aconite. 



Root somewhat woo-ly. Stem erect, sim- 

 ple, rather stout and very leafy. Flowers 

 mostly dark violet or blue. 



Cultivated in gardens. Native of Europe. 

 June. 



Ohs. This is a very variable spe- 

 cies of which De CandoUe notices 

 29 varieties, difiering in the color of 

 the flowers and division of the 

 leaves ; many of these are highly 

 ornamental plants, and are often 

 cultivated. All parts of the plant 

 are highly poisonous ; especially is 

 this the case with the root. Death 

 has resulted from mistaking the 

 roots for those of Horseradish in 

 early spring. It is introduced here 

 in order that its poisonous character 

 may be known. 



8. CIMIOIF'UGA, L. Bugbane. 



[latin, Cimsx, a bug, a.u(lfugare, to drive away ; in allusion to supposed virtues.] 



^pals 4-5, falling soon after expansion. Petals (or altered stamens) 

 minute, pedicelled.with 2 horns at the apex. Stamens numerous. Car- 

 pels 1-8, follicular, many-seeded. Perennial herbs. Leaves hi- or tri- 

 .ternately divided. Flowers in virgate racemes. 



Fig. 13. Moufehood (Aconitum Xapellus). 



2* 



