LESSON 30.] THE BUTTERCUP. 185 



" longer than the anther." Then follows an alternative, in several 

 particulars, beginning with the anther. As our plant has two-celled 

 anthers (294) and perfect flowers, and is an herb, we follow the 

 second line. Under that is another alternative, beginning with the 

 word " petals " : these as well as the sepals are deciduous soon after 

 blossoming. So we are confined to the upper of the two lines, and 

 this brings us out to the word RANUNCULACE^E, p. 2. 



535. This is the name of the order to which our plant must be- 

 long ; and the figure, 2, refers to the page of the Manual where that 

 order is described. 



53G. We turn to that page, and read over the general description 

 of the order Ranunculaceie, especially the portion at the beginning 

 printed in italics, which comprises the most important points. Its 

 agreement with our plant shows that the key has opened the way to 

 a right result. Under this order we find 21 genera described. A 

 Synopsis gives their characters in brief, and also those of the five 

 tribes they belong to. We compare the characters of these tribes 

 in succession with our plant. The petals, being present and conspic- 

 uous, exclude it from the first and the second tribes ; but with the 

 third tribe, RANUNCULE^E, it exactly accords, having the sepals 

 overlapping each other in the bud, conspicuous petals with a little 

 scale at their base inside, and one-seeded pistils, which form achenia 

 or seed-like fruits (348). Under it are two genera, Ranunculus and 

 Myosurus. With the first our plant agrees in its calyx, in its head' 

 of pistils or fruits, and in its erect seed (Fig. 361). This genus is 

 No. 8. We turn over to where it is fully described, under that 

 number, on page 7, and read the generic character or description, 

 which makes it certain that our plant belongs to the genus RANUN- 

 CULUS, the Crowfoot or Buttercup genus. 



537. We have now only to find out to which of the 17 species of 

 Ranunculus our plant belongs. The color of the petals and the little 

 scale at the base, as well as other marks, exclude it from the first 

 section (1), and lead us to 2. Under this are two subdivisions 

 designated by stars. The first has the " Achenia smooth" and takes 

 in all the section except the last two species ; our Buttercup has 

 smooth fruits, and belongs here. Then we come to a further sub- 

 division, marked with daggers ; to the first (--) our plant does not 

 belong, not being aquatic, nor are the leaves jttiformly dissected, 

 i. e. cut into fine threads. It falls into the counterpart subdivision, 

 marked -t- --, being terrestrial, and having a perennial root. 



16* 



