OF ORNAMENTAL ANNUALS. 
7 
2.—DELPHINIUM TENUISSIMUM, Sib. et Fis. THE SLENDER-BRANCHED LARKSPUR. 
Synonymes. —D. divaricatum, Ledeb. D. pubescens, Dec. Specific Character. —Pubescent. Stem branched and spreading. 
Engravings. —Swt. Brit. Flow. Gard. 2nd Series, t. 366, and our Pedicels rising from the middle of the bracteas — (D. Don.) 
dg. 1, in Plate 3. 
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 M. 
Fischer, Director of the Imp. Bot. Gard. at St. Petersburg!!. It is most nearly allied to D. consolida. 
3.—DELPHINIUM AJACIS, Lin. THE 
Engraving. —Our figs. 2, 3, and 4, in Plate 3. 
Specific Character.— Stem erect, smoothish, almost simple, with 
the branches hardly diverging. Flowers in long dense raceijies. 
Pedicels the length of the bracteas. Carpels pubescent.—(G. Don.) 
Erect plants, natives of Tauria. 
Varieties. —These are very numerous, not only differing in the 
colour and doubleness 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 fig. 2, in Plate 3), the double 
white (see fig. 4), blue, rose, flesh-coloured, dark purple (see fig. 3), 
and variegated, the common striped, the unique (red and white), the 
tall German, and the dwarf German ; all which kinds are very orna¬ 
mental, and quite hardy. Parkinson, speaking of the double varieties 
of this species, says, their flowers “ stand like little double roses, laid 
UPRIGHT, OR ROCKET LARKSPUR. 
or spread broad open, without any heeles bchinde them, very delightful 
to behold, consisting of many small leaves growing together, 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 arc not full 
of seede, as the single kindes), blacke seede, like unto all the rest, but 
smaller, which being sowen, will bring plants that will bare both single 
and double flowers againe; and it often happencth, that it variably 
altereth in colours from its owne sowing; for notto of them hold con¬ 
stantly his owne colour (so farre as ever I could observe), but fall into 
others, as nature pleaseth.” The justice of these remarks must be 
acknowledged by every one who has raised double larkspurs from seed, 
as they vary very much. All, however, are beautiful, and their variety 
is consequently an advantage rather than the reverse. Our figures 
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, which 
indeed appear set round the raceme, instead of depending from it; and this dense mass of blossom has made this 
species a great favourite in flower-gardens ever since its introduction, now above two hundred 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 fireplaces 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. The 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 be sown much earlier. It is not however desirable to grow them 
together, as from the partial resemblance of their flowers, and great dissimilitude of their growth, they produce a 
heterogeneous effect. 
The rocket larkspur is a native of Tauria in the Crimea ; but it is now found to come up spontaneously in 
