2. D. tricórne, Michx. (Dwarf L.) Leaves deeply 5-parted, their divisions unequally 3–5-cleft; the lobes linear, acutish; raceme few-flowered, loose; spur straightish, ascending; pods strongly diverging.—W. Penn. to Minn. and southward. April, May.—Root a tuberous cluster. Stem simple, 6´–3° high. Flowers bright blue, sometimes white, occasionally numerous.
3. D. azùreum, Michx. Leaves deeply 3–5-parted, the divisions 2–3 times cleft; the lobes all narrowly linear; raceme strict; spur ascending, usually curved upward; pods erect.—Wisc. to Dak. and southward. May, June.—Stem 1–2° high, slender, often softly pubescent. Flowers sky-blue or whitish.
[*][*] Annual, introduced; petals 2, united into one body; pistil single.
D. Consólida, L. (Field L.) Leaves dissected into narrow linear lobes; inflorescence loosely paniculate; pedicels shorter than the bracts; pod glabrous.—Old grain-fields, Penn. and Va.; also sparingly along roadsides farther north. (Nat. from Eu.)
D. Ajàcis, L. Flowers more numerous and spicately racemose; pods pubescent.—Sparingly escaped from gardens in E. Atlantic States. (Nat. from Eu.)
18. ACONÌTUM, Tourn. Aconite. Monkshood. Wolfsbane.
Sepals 5, petal-like, very irregular; the upper one (helmet) hooded or helmet-shaped, larger than the others. Petals 2 (the 3 lower wanting entirely, or very minute rudiments among the stamens), consisting of small spur-shaped bodies raised on long claws and concealed under the helmet. Pistils 3–5. Pods several-seeded. Seed-coat usually wrinkled or scaly.—Perennials, with palmately cleft or dissected leaves, and showy flowers in racemes or panicles. (The ancient Greek and Latin name, of uncertain origin.)
1. A. Noveboracénse, Gray. Erect from tuberous-thickened roots, 2° high, leafy, the summit and strict loosely flowered raceme pubescent; leaves rather deeply parted, the broadly cuneate divisions 3-cleft and incised; flowers blue, the helmet gibbous-obovate with broad rounded summit and short descending beak.—Chenango and Orange Cos., N. Y.
2. A. uncinàtum, L. (Wild Monkshood.) Glabrous; stem slender, from tuberous-thickened roots, erect, but weak and disposed to climb; leaves firm, deeply 3–5-lobed, petioled, the lobes ovate-lanceolate, coarsely toothed; flowers blue; helmet erect, obtusely conical, compressed, slightly beaked in front.—Rich shady soil along streams, Penn., and southward in the mountains; Wisc. June–Aug.
3. A. reclinàtum, Gray. (Trailing Wolfsbane.) Glabrous; stems trailing (3–8° long); leaves deeply 3–7-cleft, petioled, the lower orbicular in outline; the divisions wedge-form, incised, often 2–3-lobed; flowers white, in very loose panicles; helmet soon horizontal, elongated-conical, with a straight beak in front.—Cheat Mountain, Va., and southward in the Alleghanies. Aug.—Lower leaves 5–6´ wide. Flowers 9´´ long, nearly glabrous.