DICOTYLEDOXES. 



petaloid sepals, succeeding these, most frequently, several linear, 

 dark yellow petals, which bear a naked nectary at the base; 

 finally, many stamens and carpels arranged in a spiral (-, / T ). 

 Caltha (Marsh-marigold, Figs. 375, 377); 5 (-7) yellow sepals, 

 no petals. The foliage-leaves have a large amplexicaul sheath. 

 Helleborous (Hellebore) has pedate leaves. The flower is acyclic, 

 with 5 large, regular, persistent, often petaloid sepals (f) ; small, 

 hornlike petals (honey-leaves ; most frequently 13, divergence -^3) 

 and generally few carpels (Fig. 374). Coptis. Isopyrum. 

 Eranthis (Winter Aconite), like Anemone, has a 3-leaved invo- 

 lucre and most frequently trimerous flowers, 6 large petaloid sepals, 

 6 petals (tubular honey-leaves), 6 oblique rows of stamens, 3-6 carpels. 

 Aqnilef/ia (Columbine, Fig. 376) ; the flower is entirely cyclic 



FIG. 378. Nigella : A, B fruit of N. tlamnscena, entire, and cut transversely. C Petal 

 (honey-leai) of N. arvensis. D Petal of N. damascena. 



and has large spurs on all the 5 petals (funnel-shaped honey- 

 leaves); S5 coloured, P5, A5 x (8-12), G5 in regular alternation 

 (Figs. 376, 370) ; the innermost stamens are often staminodes 

 (Fig. 370). Nigella (Love-in-the-mist, Fig. 378) has 5 sepals 

 and 8 small, two-lipped petals cleft at the apex (the nectary is 

 covered by the under-lip; Fig. 378 C, D). The 5 carpels are 

 more or less completely united; and a many-carpellate ovary 

 with free styles is formed in some. Large air-chambers in the 

 external wall of the ovary are formed in N. damascena (Fig. 378). 

 Actfca (Baneberry) has coloured sepals, either no petals or an 



sometimes present transitional forms to the inner, and sometimes there is a 

 distinct boundary between them. 



