RANUNULACEAE (CROWFOOT FAMILY) 63 



white flowers on scapes. Sepals 5-7, petal-like, deciduous. Petals 

 5-7, small, club-shaped, hollow at the apex. Stamens 15-25. Pis- 

 tils 3-7 on slender stalks. (Named from coptein, to cut, referring 

 to the divided leaves.) 



C. trifolia, GOLDTHREAD. A tiny woodland plant whose long bright 

 yellow and thread-like roots are thought to have medicinal value. 



Caltha palustris, Marsh marigold. 



Coptis trifolia, Goldthread. 



They are bitter. The evergreen leaves are dark green and shining, 

 3-lobed, scalloped, finely toothed, long-stemmed. Mossy woods and 

 swamps. May-July. 



AQUILEGIA 



Perennials with 2-3 ternately compound leaves, the leaflets 

 lobed. Flowers large and showy, terminating the branches. 

 Sepals 5, regular, colored like the petals. Petals 5, all alike, with 

 a short spreading lip, and extending backward into large spurs 

 which are much longer than the calyx. Pistils 5, with slender 

 styles. 



