LARKSPUR. 
71 
They vary from 1 to 6 or 8 feet in height, and are 
distinguished by their many-lobed, and much-cut 
leaves, and racemes of irregular flowers. Of these 
the sepals form the most attractive feature, the upper 
one ending in a spur. The species are mostly peren- 
nial but a few annual kinds, like the single and 
double-flowered forms of D. Ajacis and D. Consolida T 
are often grown in large masses. They are raised 
from seeds in spring, both kinds having finely-divided 
thread-like leaves. 
The blossoms of the Ajacis section are white, pink, 
or blue, and in such forms as hyacint hi forum, ranun- 
culiflorum, and others, are an improvement on the 
ordinary type. The flowers of D. Gonsolida are usually 
blue, but there is also a good deal of variation in them. 
Although the prevailing colour of the Larkspurs is 
blue, purple, or violet, there are a few notable excep- 
tions. Amongst these the Californian D. cardinale is 
remarkable for its scarlet flowers which are borne 
3 to 4 feet above the deeply-lobed leaves. This 
species is raised from seeds one year to flower the 
next. It has long fleshy roots and likes a rich soil. 
I). nudicaule, also from California, grows 1 to 1-| feet 
high, has three-lobed leaves and bright orange-scarlet 
blossoms from May to August when established. It 
is easily raised from seeds, but strong clumps may also 
be divided in spring. Another remarkable Larkspur is 
I). Zalil or D. sulphureum (Plate 17, fig. 48). It is a 
native of Afghanistan, and grows about 6 feet high, 
having deeply-cut leaves and long spikes of soft yellow 
flowers in summer. The plants require warm sunny 
spots and rich well-drained soil. They may be raised 
