The plants belonging to the genus Delphinium, that is to say, the Larkspurs, have their flowers constructed in nearly as curious a manner as those of the different kinds of Monkshood; but they differ in the sepals and petals both forming conspicuous parts of the flower, though they are generally quite distinct both in form and colour, and may be easily traced through all the different forms they assume in the various species. They are, however, perhaps most easily distinguished in the branching or autumnal Larkspur (_Delphinium consolida_). In the flower of this plant the spur (_a_ in _fig._ 10) is the upper sepal of the calyx, and it serves as a cover to part of the petals. There are four other portions of the calyx (_b_), which assume the appearance of ordinary sepals. The petals are four in number; and they are united at the lower part, and drawn out into a sort of tail, as shown at _c_; while the upper part of two of them stands up like asses’ ears (_d_) in the centre of the flower; and the others are curiously folded, so as to form a hood over the stamens and carpels, as shown at _e_. The anthers of the stamens resemble those of the Ranunculus; but the filaments are bent, as shown at _f_. The carpels (_g_) are upright, hairy, and terminate in a blunt, fleshy stigma (_h_). When ripe, they open in the same manner as those of the Monkshood. The branching Larkspur has a fusiform or tap root, as shown in _fig._ 11, in which _a_ is the collar, or as the Italians call it _la noda vitale_; and _b_ the fibrous roots, through the points of which the plant takes up its food. [Illustration: FIG. 11.—TAP ROOT OF THE BRANCHING LARKSPUR.] The flowers of the other kinds of Larkspur resemble this one in their general appearance, though they differ in the minor details. Those of the Rocket Larkspur (_D. Ajacis_) lose their spurs when they become double; and those of the Bee Larkspurs have their petals nearly black, and instead of standing up like ears, they are so curiously folded as to resemble a bee nestling in the centre of the flower. THE GENUS AQUILEGIA.