Thalictrum.] RANUNCULACE^, 



3 



described by De Candolle; and it would seem that Michaux's specimens (it does not appear in what part of 

 America they were gathered,) are the authority both for De Lessert's fi^ire and De Candolle*s description. 

 I have not seen ripe carpels, nor has De Lessert represented them. Is it not possible that the present may 

 be a state of T. dioicum ? (with which, in habit and foliag:e, the plant entirely agrees,) having pistils and 

 stamens on the same flower, both of which are differently modified from what we find in the dioecious state. 



2. T, dioicum; floribus dioicis, filamentis fiUformibus, foliolis subrotundis crenato- 

 lobatis glabris subtus glaucis, — Linn, Sp, PL p, 768. Pursky FL Am. v, 2. p. 388. BigeL 

 Fl. Bost. ed* 2. jo. 220. Elliott^ Carol, v, 2. p, 50. De Less, Ic, v, 1. t, 8. De Cand, Prodr, 

 V, 1. p. 12. — T. lajvigatum. Mich, Am, v. 1. p, 322. 



Caulis pedalis nunc bipedalis. Folia fere omnino ut in T. clavato, submollia, membranacca. Panicula 

 terminalis, magis minusve longa* Stamina numerosa, filamentis fiUformibus, antheris linearlbus mucronatis. 

 Gennen oblono^o-ovatum, hinc intus planum, stylo stig^raateque lineari duplo brevius. Stiyina decidaum. 

 Fructus semi-ovatus, sulcatus, stylo persistente acuminatus. ' 



Hab. Grassy banks of rivers; most abundant in the central limestone districts, from Canada to the banks 

 of the Mackenzie River, in lat. 67<*. Dr. Richardson. Found also on the eastern base of the Rocky Moun- 

 tains. Drummond; and on the banks of the Columbia. (Mr. Garry.) Not found on the barren pounds, 

 nor on naked alpine situations. — An abundant plant, and, as far as I can judge from the numerous specimens 

 in the different collections, very constant to its character. Dr. Richardson's T. corynellum in Frankl. 1st 

 Joum. ed. 2. includes specimens of T. dioicum and T. Cornuti of this work : some of the former having' 

 been overlooked among his specimens. 



3. T* purpurascens ; "floribus dioicis monoicisve, filamentis filiformibus coloratis, folio- 

 rum segmentis suborbiculatis grosse dentatis glabris subtus glaucis, panicula contracta 

 subaphylla." DC—Linn, Sp, PI, p. 769. Pursh, Fl, Am. v. 2. p, 389. De Cand, Prodr. 

 V. 1. p, 12. • 



Hab. Canada. Linn. — This is probably only T, dioicum, with purplish flowers, 



4. T. Cornuti; floribus plerumque dioicis, filamentis subclavatis, antheris ellipticis 

 sublinearibusve, foliolis subrotundo-obovatis oblongisve trilobls subtus glaucis nervis 

 vix prominentibus, carpellis ovato-oblongis, stigmate filiformi marginibus membranaceis. 

 (Tab. 1L) 



». antheris Iineari-oblongis. — T. Cornuti. Linn, Sp. PL p, 768. Pursh, Fl, Am, v, 2. p, 

 388. — T, revolutum. De Cand, Syst Veget. v, 1. p. 173.? Prodr, v. 1. p, 12.? Elliott^ 

 Carol V. 2. p. 49. — T. Canadense. " Cornntiy Canad. 186. t. 187." 



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j3. antheris ellipticis. — T. pubescens. Pursh, 17, Am. v. 2. p, 388. Nutt. N, Am, Gen, 

 V. 2. p. 21. — T. corynellum. De Cand, Si/st Veget. v. 1. p. 172. Prodr. v, 1. p. 12. Rich, 

 in Frankl. \st Joum. ed, 2, App. p. 21. 



Caulis 3-4-pedalis, ramosus. Foliola forma mire variant in iisdem examplaribus, nunc ovata, nunc cor- 

 data, et non raro obovato-oblon^ vel cuneata, majuscula, trilobata, lobis plerumijue acutis ; supeme intense 

 Tuidia, subtus pallidiora, glauca, glabra vel pubescentia. Panicula composita, foliosa. Staminum Jilamenta 

 maffis minusve elongata et clavata : anthercs ellipticae, oblongae vel lineari-oblongse. Pistilla numerosa in 

 sinfrulo flore foemineo : fjermen nigrum, oblongo-ovatum, subgibbosum ; stylus breviusculus ; stigma longum, 

 lineare, margine utrinque membranaceumj dilatatum, Fructum maturum non vidi. 



Hab. Banks of rivers as far north as lat ^^, in woody districts the whole breadth of the continent, 

 excluding the barren grounds and alpine tracts- — Variable as this plant assuredly is, it may be at once 



A 2 



