Plate 34 
FBASEB’S BEE LABKSPUB. 
Delphinium mesoleucum , var . Fraseri. 
There is now met with in gardens a race of large-flowered 
herbaceous perennial Bee Larkspurs (so called from the dark- 
coloured hairy petals of the older sorts resembling a bee lodged 
in the centre of the flower), obtained by crossing and selection, 
which altogether eclipse our older favourites of the herbaceous 
border. Of this race, of which the parents appear to be chiefly 
1). grandiflorum , cheilanthum , mesoleucum , and some allied kinds, 
D. formosum and Hendersoni may be especially mentioned as 
well known popular kinds, esteemed on account of the large 
size and brilliant colours of their showy flowers. 
Among these improved sorts, D. Fraseri , which was exhi¬ 
bited, under the name of Beauty, by Messrs. J. and J. Fraser, 
of the Lea-bridge Boad Nursery, at one of the summer meet¬ 
ings of the Horticultural Society’s Floral Committee, must be 
allowed to take a prominent place. It seems to belong to the 
race sprung from I). mesoleucum , having, like it, white petals 
and pubescent flower-stalks. In the size and brilliancy of its 
flowers it vies with 1 ). formosum , from which it was raised; but 
it surpasses that well-known showy sort in the conspicuous 
purity of its white centre, which affords a striking and remark¬ 
able contrast with the intense blue of the rest of the flower. 
The habit is exactly that of D. formosum when in vigorous 
growth. The leaves are palmatifidly lobed, with incised seg¬ 
ments. The flowers grow in a close elongated spike, and are 
of large size, the calyx being of a vivid blue, somewhat shaded 
Plate 34. —Delphinium mesoleucum, var. Tbaseri: flowers in a close 
spike, very large, deep-blue; the petals white, large, and prominent, the two 
lower ones bearded and bifid; peduncles pubescent. 
