8 
WILD FLOWERS OF THE BRITISH ISLES 
*LARKSPUR. (DELPHINIUM, LINN .) — Flowers showy, shortly stalked, in longish clusters 
(racemes), terminating the stem and branches. Sepals 5, brightly coloured, like petals (petaloid), 
the upper one spurred ; petals 4, united, the two upper ones spurred and enclosed in the spur 
of the calyx ; stamens numerous ; carpels 1-6. Fruit 1-5 follicles (dry, many-seeded fruits, 
opening down one side). Herbs with alternate much-divided leaves. 
*Field Larkspur. (Delphinium Ajaeis, Reiehb.)— Not a true native. The only 
species naturalised in the British Isles (as just described). The flowers blue, white, or pink, 
4-16 on a stem; the leaves of the root (radical) stalked, and those of the stem stalkless (sessile), 
all much divided to the base into narrow lobes. \Plate 6. 
Very rare. Cornfields. June — July. Annual. 
MONKSHOOD. (ACONITUM, LINN .) — Flowers in long terminal clusters (racemes). Sepals 5, 
unequal, purplish blue, like petals (petaloid), the upper one helmet-shaped; petals 2-5, 
the two upper tubular on long stalks included in the helmet-shaped sepal, the three lower very 
small or absent ; stamens numerous ; carpels 3-5. Fruit in a head of from 3-5 follicles (dry, 
many-seeded fruits, opening at one side). Perennial herbs, with leaves divided to the base 
(palmate) and tuberous roots. Very poisonous. 
Common Monkshood, Wolf’s-bane. (Aconitum Napellus, Linn.)— The only British 
species (as just described). The flowers i-i£ inches across, with blackish-green anthers; the 
stem 1-3 feet high ; the leaves divided to the base into from 3-5 deeply lobed segments 
(bi-palmatifid). Root black. A deadly poison. \Plate 6. 
Rare. Shady places on the banks of streams. Common in gardens. July — August. 
Perennial. 
BANE-BERRY. (AC17EA, LINN.) — Flowers small, shortly stalked, growing in close succes- 
sion up the stem (in a raceme). Sepals 3-5, coloured like petals (petaloid); petals 4-10, 
minute or absent; stamens numerous, as long as or longer than the petals; carpel 1, many- 
seeded. Fruit a berry containing many seeds. Erect herbs, with chiefly radical leaves, divided 
from the base into 3-stalked leaflets which are lobed towards the base into 3 coarsely toothed 
segments. 
Bane-berry, Herb Christopher. (Aetsea spicata, Linn.) — The only British species 
(as just described). The sepals and minute petals being white, the stem 1-2 feet high, and the 
berry purplish-black when ripe. 
Very rare, local. Woods in the North of England. May — June. Perennial. 
*PEONY. (P/EONIA, LINN.)- -Not a native. Flowers large and showy, solitary on long stalks. 
Sepals 5, unequal, remaining with the fruit (persistent); petals 5-10, very large; stamens 
numerous ; carpels 2-5. Fruit of 2-5 follicles, often woolly. Large herbs or shrubs with 
divided leaves. 
*Peony. (Pseonia corallina, Retz.) — Not a native. The only species naturalised in 
the British Isles (as just described). The flowers about 4 inches across, crimson; the stem about 
2 feet high ; the leaves stalked, divided to the base into 3 distinct leaflets, which are similarly 
divided into 3 entire or lobed leaflets ; and the root producing a cluster of carrot-like tubers. 
Very rare. Not a native. Naturalised on Steep Holmes Island in the Severn. May — June. 
Pe ennial. 
