VOF ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 
2.— DELPHINIUM TENUISSIMUM Sib. et Fis. THE SLENDER-BRANCHED LARKSPUR. 
Synonymes. — D. divaiicatiim Ledeb. D. pubesccns Dec. 
Engravings. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Card. 2nd Series, t. 366, and our 
Hg. 1, in Plate 3. 
Specific Character. — Pubescent. Stem branched and spreadine. 
Pedicels rising from the middle of the bractcas (D. Don.) 
Description, &c. — The whole plant is covered with a fine down. The stem is slender, growing about a foot 
high, and spreading into numerous branches. The flowers are small, and of a reddish-purple, and are not on a 
raceme, but on very long footstalks. This gives the plant a peculiarly light and elegant appearance. The plant 
was found by Pallas, on the banks of the Volga, and by Dr. Sibthorp, on Mount Hymettus, near Athens. This 
species is quite hardy, and it was raised in the Botanic Garden, Chelsea, in 1837, from seeds sent there by Dr. 
Fischer, Director of the Imp. Bot. Gard. at St. Petersburgh. It is most nearly allied to D. consolida. 
3.— DELPHINIUM AJACIS Lin. THE UPRIGHT, OR ROCKET LARKSPUR. 
Engraving. — Our Jigs. 2, 3, and 4, in Plate 3. 
Specific Character. — Stem erect, smoothish. almost simple, with 
the branches hardly diverging. Flowers in long dense racemes. 
Pedicels the length of the bractcas. Carpels pubescent. — ( G. Don. ) 
Erect plants, natives of Tauria. 
Varif-ties. — These are very numerous, not only differing in the 
colour and doublencss of the flowers, but in the height of the plant. 
The principal kinds enumerated in the nurserymen's catalogues, are, 
the tall rocket, the dwarf rocket (see Jig. 2, in Plate 3), the double 
white {&ecjig. 4), blue, rose, flesh-coloured, dark purple (^&ce Jig. 3), 
and variegated, the common striped, the unique (red and white), the 
tall German, and the dwgrf German ; all which kinds arc very orna- 
mental, and quite hardy. Parkinson, speaking of tlie double varieties 
of this species, says, their flowers " stand like little double roses, laid 
or spread broad open, without any Iiccles bchiude them, very delightful 
to behold, consisting of many small leaves growing togctlier, and after 
they are fallen, there comes up in their places three or four small pods 
set together, wherein is contained, here and there (for all aro not full 
of seede, as the single kindes), blacke scede, like unto all the rest, but 
smaller, which being sowen, will bring plants that will bare both singlo 
and double flowers againe; and it often happcneth, that it variably 
altereth in colours from its owno sowing ; for none of them hold con- 
stantly his owne colour (so fan-e as ever I could observe), but fall into 
others, as nature pleaseih." The justice of these remarks must bo 
acknowledged by every one who has raised double larkspurs from seed, 
as they vary very much. All, however, are beautiful, and tlieir variety 
is consequently an advantage rather than the reverse. Our flgures 
were drawn from specimens in Lee*s nursery. Hammersmith. 
Description, &c. — The rocket larkspur is of a compact habit of growth, with nearly sessile flowers, wliich 
indeed appear set round the raceme, instead of depending from it ; and this dense miiss of blossom has made this 
species a great favourite in flower-gardens ever since its introduction, now above two liundred and fifty years 
ago. It was the custom in the last century to fill jars or vases with large flowers, and to set them in the grates 
or firepliicea during summer ; and we find all the early writers on flower-gardens mentioning, as an inducement 
for cultivating particular flowers, that they would be suitable for this use. Tlie double larkspur was a favourite 
chimney flower ; so much so indeed, that Miller, speaking of it in his Dictionary, says, " For gathering, to make 
flower-pots to adorn rooms, there is scarcely any so proper ; because, by their upright growth and long spikes 
(of flowers), they rise to a proper height above the pots ; and when their several colours are skilfully introduced, 
they make a rich appearance, and continue a long time in beauty." — {Mart. Miller.) This species, when grown 
in gardens, flowers nearly a month before D. consolida, if both are sown at the same time ; so that when they 
are wanted to flower at the same time, it should bo sown much later. It is not however desirable to grow tiieni 
together, as from the partial resemblance of their flowers, and great dissimilitude of their growth, they produce a 
heterogeneous eifcet. 
llie rocket larkspur is a native of Tauria in the Crimea ; but it is now found to come np spontaneously in 
