from that genus by the absence of a little scale at the base of the petals, and from other genera of the same order by the numerous hard, dry, sharp-pointed grains of which its fruit consists. It is an upright annual plant, from eight inches to a foot in height. The leaves are finely cut into numerous narrow linear segments. The sepals are green or slightly coloured; the petals from five to eight in number, but slightly longer than the calyx, of a bright scarlet colour, with a dark or black spot at the base inside the flower. It is constantly to be found in cornfields in the summer, from May to September in England and Ireland, and sometimes in Scotland.

GLOBE FLOWER.

TROLLIUS EUROPEUS.

TROLLIUS EUROPEUS, Globe Flower, belongs also to the order Ranunculaceæ, and is so called from the German word trollen, round, in reference to the round shape of the flowers. The species are all perennial herbs, with divided leaves and yellow flowers, composed of coloured sepals. It is not a large genus, and our native species, Trollius Europaus, is the most generally known. It has from ten to fifteen broad concave sepals, usually turned over in the shape of a ball, and concealing petals, stamens, and carpels.

In Scotland it is called Lucken Gowan, or Cabbage Daisy. In some parts of England, as well as on the continent of Europe, they are gathered on festive occasions for making garlands and decorating the cottages of the peasantry. In common with its natural order, this plant is slightly acrid. It likes a rich, moist soil, but loves a good strong light to flourish under; deriving vigour and colour as the moon derives her light.

more.

COLUMBINE.

AQUILEGIA VULGARIS.

AQUILEGIA, literally water-gatherer, is another genus of plants of the Ranunculus family, so called because the leaves collect water in their hollow. A. Vulgaris, the Common Columbine of our hedges, is a pretty little plant with a stem from one to two feet high or The flowers, which are curious, are of a dull purple or blue colour, and drooping. The root-leaves and those at the lower part of the stem grow in a large tuft, each with a long stalk. The petals have all a long curved horn or spur at their base, which projects below the calyx. The stamens are numerous. The English name, Columbine, is derived from a fanciful likeness to a dove, which is produced if we separate one petal from the flower-cluster; it brings with it two

sepals, and the appearance of a dove may be imagined. When wild, the blossom is of a light-blue colour, but the plant is subject to great changes in cultivation, and readily produces double flowers. We find in 'Brown's British Pastorals,' that our dove-like plant was, in former times, the insignia of a deserted lover:— "The Columbine by lonely wand'rer taken,

Is there ascribed to such as are forsaken."

MONK'S-HOOD, OR WOLF'S-BANE.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS.

ACONITUM NAPELLUS is a plant with a firm erect stem one and a half to two feet high, also belonging to the Ranunculaceæ. The leaves are either stalked or very close to the stem, of a dark-green colour and very smooth. The flowers are large, and are easily recognized as having the very large uppermost segment of the calyx overhanging the petals and other parts in the form of a helmet. The two upper petals inside this covering are long and narrow, with spurs; the three lower ones very small. We may all remember having plucked these flowers in our childhood, and, having thrown back the hood or calyx, have delighted in the fairy chariot and steeds formed by the petals thus set free. No vegetable poisons are more powerful than those produced by this genus of plants; and