Localities. — Corn-fields, on a sandy or chalky soil; rare.— Oxfordshire ; I 
have sometimes seen it in corn-fields between the Parks and Summertown, but 
it had most probably escaped from gardens, for in the same locality l have fre- 
quently observed many other garden-flowers growing wild : W. B. — Bedfordsh. 
St. Leonard’s Farm, near Bedford: Rev. C. Abbot. —Cambridgesh. By the 
lower road to Gogmagog Hills; Hinton, Trumpington, Feversham, SwafFham, 
Botlisham, &c. : Rev. R. Reliian. “ About Cambridge, at Quay, the hills 
are quite blue with it; and yet Ray does not mention it:” Rev. Professor 
Henslovv. — Dorset; In several fields near Blandford, and elsewhere, but 
sparingly : Dr. Pulteney. — Durham ; In a limestone quarry near Bishopwear- 
mouth : Mr. Backhouse. On the Ballast-hills of Tyne and Wear; on Hebburn 
Ballast-hills: N. J. Winch, Esq. In cornfields at Norton : J. Hocg, Esq. — 
Essex ; Near Woodford, in a little inclosure between Woodford Hall and the 
road; not common: R. Warner, Esq/ — Kent; Fields between Blackheath 
and Eltham: Dr. Dillenius. In King’s Field, near Faversham : E. Jacob, 
Esq. Near the High Rocks : Ft. Ton. — Leicestersh. Observed for two or three 
years successively among the corn in the fields at Loughborough : Dr. Pul- 
teney.— Norfolk ; About Feltwell, near Brandon : Mr. F. Smith. Ditching- 
ham: Air. Woodward. Barton Bendish, and Oxburgh: Rev. R. Forby. 
Coin-field, Docking: New Bot. Guide. — Northumberland, On the Ballast- 
hills of Tyne; and in a clover-field near the Lough on Holy Island : N. J. 
Winch, Esq. — Nottinghamsh. Nottingham Park; Trent side near Wilford : 
Dr. Howitt, in N. B.G. — Shropsh. Devenport Woods: W. A. Leighton, in 
N. B. G. — Suffolk} Near Bury: Rev. Dr. Goodf.nough. Fields about Aid- 
borough at the Hall Farm: Rev. G. Craebe. — Surrey; In Battersea Fields, 
but probably escaped from gardens : Mr. W. Pamplin, jun. Ditton Common, 
on rubbish heaps; and sparingly on Hersham Green, in 1836: Mr. Watson, 
in N.B. G. — Warwicksh. Studley, in the Castle Field: T. Purton, Esq. — 
Worcestersh In afield byPershore: Merrett. Near Grimley : Mr. Ed- 
munds. — Yorksh. Corn-field near Ripon, rare: Mr. Bkunton. — WALES. 
Glamorgansh. Truly wild on the sandy shores of Swansea Bay : Mr. E. Lees, 
in N. B. G. — SCOTL AN D. Edinburghsh. Shore near Edinburgh : J. Graves, 
in N. B.G. 
Annual. — Flowers from June to August. 
Root simple, slender. Stem from 1 to 2 feet high, upright, leafy, 
finely downy, branched ; branches alternate, widely spreading. 
Leaves sessile, divided down to the base into 3 or 5 parts, which 
are deeply cut into slender, strap-shaped segments, often forked at 
the end. Stipulas none. Racemes terminal, of few flowers. Bracteas 
at the base, and in the middle, of each pedicel (partial flower-stalk) 
simple or divided. Flowers blue, varying to purple, pink, and 
white, or variegated with these colours. Petals irregularly scol- 
loped at the edge; the lateral ones broadest ; the uppermost spear- 
shaped, not blunter than the rest, rather shorter than the nectary, 
but projecting backwards into a conical tube. Nectary of a single 
leaf, placed within the upper petal. Anthers double, yellow, 
Germen and Capsule solitary, downy, with a short permanent 
style. Seeds angular, blackish, very rough. 
This species is a native in corn-fields throughout Europe, also in Pennsylvan- 
nia, and Virginia. A double-flowered variety of it is often cultivated in gardens, 
and is also occasionally met with m a wild state; the Rev. R. Relhan found it 
in a field by the footpath from Shelford to Gogmagog-hill near Cambridge. 
The expressed juice of the petals, with the addition of a little alum, makes a 
good blue ink. The seeds are acrid and poisonous. They are said to enter into 
the composition of certain French cosmetics, which, although primarily efficient, 
are found, by continued use, to be very destructive to the skin. A tincture of 
the seeds, in doses of 20 or 30 drops, is said to be serviceable in asthma; it pro- 
duces a slight degree of nausea, but in overdoses is injurious. The active proper- 
ties of the Delphinia seem to depend upon a peculiar alkaloid, which has been 
called delphine. According to the observations of Linn.eus, sheep and goats 
eat the plant; horses are not fond of it; cows and swine refuse it. The cater- 
pillar of Phalana Delphinium lives upon it ; and it is said likewise to constitute 
the favourite food of the rare and singularly elegant moth, and caterpillar, Cha- 
riclea Delphinii. Cuit. Brit. Entom. v. ii. t. 76. See Burn. Outl. of Bot., and 
With. Bot. Arr. 
