POLYCARPICA'. 



S83 



indefinite number, and only 1 carpel. The fruit is a berry (or 

 follicle). Cimicifur/a, Gaiiddla, Xaitthorhiza (S5, P5, A5 + 5, G5). 



3. DELPHINIE^, LARKSPUR GROUP. Zygomorphic flowers witb 

 coloured calyx ; the 2 posterior petals (honey-leaves) are trans- 

 formed into nectaries, the others are small or absent altogether. 

 Aconitum (Monkshood) ; 5 sepals, of which the posterior one (Fig. 

 379 A) is helmet-shaped ; most frequently 8 petals (as in Fig. 372), 

 of which the two posterior ones (honey-leaves) are developed into 

 long-clawed nectaries (Fig. 379 .4, fc) enveloped by the helmet-like 

 sepal; the others are small, or are to some extent suppressed. 

 Stamens on a spiral of f-^ ; generally 3 carpels. Perennial herbs. 

 Delphinium (Larkspur) ; very closely allied to Aconitum, but the 

 anterior 4 petals are most frequently wanting, and the 2 posterior 

 ones have each a spur, which 



is enclosed by the posterior 

 sepal, the latter being also 

 provided with a membranous 



spur. Stamens and carpels ar- 

 ranged on a spiral of jf, -f^, ^. 

 In P. njacis and consolida there is 

 apparently only 1 petal (by the 

 fusion of 4) and 1 carpel. 



B. Fruit achenes. Many 

 carpels, each with only 1 

 ascending (Fig. 373 C), or 

 pendulous (Fig. 373 D), per- 

 fect ovule ; often also rudi- 

 mentary ovules above it (Fig. 

 373 A, B). Fruit achenes. 



4. RANUNCULE^E, BUTTER- 

 CUP GROUP, has double peri- 

 anth. Hyosurus and Adonis have 

 pendulous ovules as in Anemones 



(Fig. 373 >) ; Ranunculus, with Batrachium and Ficaria, erect ovules (Fig. 273 C) 

 and downwardly-turned radicle. Ranunculus. Most frequently S5, P5, 

 many spirally-placed stamens and carpels (Figs. 371, 380). The 

 petals (honey-leaves) have a nectary at the base, covered by a small 

 scale. Batrachium, Water Ranunculus, deviates by the acheues being trans- 

 versely wrinkled ; dimorphic leaves. Ficaria has 3 sepals and 7-8 petals arranged 

 in -. F. ranunculoides (the only species) has tuberous roots, which spring from 

 the base of the axillary buds, and together with these, serve as organs of repro- 

 duction. The embryo has only 1 cotyledon. Myosums (Mouse-tail) has 



FIG. 379. Aconitum napellus. A Flower in 

 longitudinal section, below are the 2 bracteoles ; 

 a half of helmet-like sepal ; b and c other 

 sepals; fc nectary; / carpels. B Ovary in, 

 longitudinal section ; C the same traLsversely ; 

 d dorsal suture ; v ventral suture. 



