265 
DELPHINIUM BARLOWII. 
(mr. barlow's larkspur.) 
class. order. 
POLYANDRIA. TRIGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
RANUNCULACEiE. 
Generic Character. — Calyx coloured, deciduous, five-sepalled ; sepals superior, prolonged at the base 
into a hollow spur. Petals four, sometimes growing within each other; two superior, prolonged at 
the base into appendages contained within the spur. Stamens indefinite. Ovaries one to five, 
usually three. Capsule entire, distinct, one-valved, one-celled. Seeds numerous, dry berries. 
Specific Character.' — Plant perennial, growing usually from four to five feet high. Leaves with five 
principal divisions, deeply lobed and jagged; serratures acute ; deep green on the surface, light green 
beneath, smooth. Flowers semi-double, of a most intense blue colour, produced very numerously 
in terminal spikes. Sepals of the calyx greenish externally. 
We have pleasure in again directing the attention of our readers to the deeply- 
interesting and important results which have been produced by the practice of 
hybridization, as illustrated in the splendid plant of which the accompanying 
figure will convey some idea, but the colours of which it is impossible to imitate 
successfully upon paper. In a communication to Dr. Lindley, published in the 
Botanical Register, t. 1944, Messrs. Rollison, of Tooting, state — " We received the 
Delphinium from a friend at Manchester under the name of 6 D. Barlowii,' and 
we believe it to have been raised by a florist of that name in the neighbourhood 
of Manchester ; undoubtedly it is an hybrid production, and we think the parents 
to be D. grandiflorum and D. elatum, partaking in the growth and flowers of the 
character of both." 
From the above extract it will be seen that this remarkably showy plant affords 
another demonstration of the advantages of hybridizing plants, the colours or 
habits of which it may appear desirable to combine. Apart, however, from any 
existing proofs of its utility or efficacy, it is a subject which possesses more than 
ordinary interest to the inquiring physiologist. To ascertain in what precise 
manner the fertile organs affect, or are affected by, those of plants with different 
habits, would be worthy of the most distinguished botanist. We know that 
certain combinations produce certain results ; for instance, that an admixture of 
two opposite colours will give an intermediate shade, and that, by the cross-ferti- 
lization of plants of different habits, a hybrid partaking in some degree of the 
nature of both parents will be raised ; but further than this we are comparatively 
ignorant, and we should rejoice to see some talented individual devoting his 
attention to a minute investigation into the laws and process of hybridizing plants. 
VOL. V. NO. LX. M M 
