42 THE LADIES' FLOWEE-GARDEN 
D. FLEXUOSUM, Deo. 
Stem flexible ; flowers blue ; a native of Caucasus, introduced in 1817. 
D. OCHROLEUCUM, Dec. 
Flowers cream-colour. A native of Caucasus, introduced in 1817. 
D. CASHMERIANUM, Royle. 
With vine-like leaves, and very large blue flowers. A native of Nepaul, introduced in 1840. 
D. REQUIENII. 
A biennial. A native of the South of Europe, introduced in 1819 ; closely resembling D. pictum, but more 
tender. 
GENUS XVI. 
ACONITUM, Lin. THE MONKSHOOD, OR WOLFSBANE. 
Lin. Syst. POLYANDRIA TRIGYNIA. 
Generic Character. — Calyx of five irregular petal-like, deciduous I two, hidden within the helraet, on long stalks, forming a hollow tube 
sepals, the upper one of which is concave or helmet-shaped. Petals 1 at the apex, and drawn out at the end into a spur. 
Description, &c.— Few flowers are more curiously formed than those of this genus ; their ornamental part 
is the calyx, which is divided into five sepals, the upper one of which forms a kind of helmet, supported by two 
large side petals, like the cheek plates of a visor; while the other two petals, which are much smaller, hang down 
behind. Beneath the helmet, or cowl, as it equally may be fancied, are the petals, curiously folded up so as to 
form a kind of pouch at the upper end, while the other is drawn out into a kind of claw ; each petal being 
supported on a very long stalk. These curiously-formed petals were called by Linnaeus nectaries, and the sac 
at the apex of each was supposed to be a receptacle for honey. The seed-vessels, like those of the Larkspur, 
are follicles ; that is, they appear formed of a leaf curved round so as to make the two side edges meet, and 
united by a kind of seam, called a suture. These seed-vessels are usually produced three or five together, and 
each contains numerous seeds, which they open at the upper part to discharge. The plants are tall and erect ; 
with the flowers produced in a long terminal raceme, and with the leaves generally deeply cut. The roots are 
partly fleshy, generally forming small radish-like tubers just below the collar. These tubers are a deadly poison 
in most of the species, and in all are dangerous. The leaves are, in most cases, deeply five-cleft, with the lobes cut 
into numerous linear lobules. The plants are generally of the easiest culture, growing freely in any tolerably 
good soil and sheltered situation. The flowers are blue, purple, pale yellow, and white, but never pink. The 
name of Aconitum is said to be taken from Acona, a city in Greece, near which some of the species are found in 
great abundance ; Monkshood alludes to the cowl-like upper sepal ; and Wolfsbane, to the poisonous qualities of 
the plants. The genus is a very large one (above a hundred and thirty species having been introduced) ; and it has 
been divided by modern botanists into eight sections. As, however, only a few of these plants can be procured, 
I have only described those which appear to be the most ornamental, taking one or two in each section. 
