POLYCARPIOS:. 385 



ill the form of a feather. The main axis of A. licpatica has unlimited 

 growth (it is biaxial), and the flowers are home laterally in the axils of the 

 scale-leaves ; in the others (uniaxial) the flower is terminal, and the rhizome 

 becomes a syrnpodium after the first flowering Thalictnun (Meadow 



Rue) has no involucre ; 4-5-leaved, greenish perianth. The re- 

 ceptacle is flat. The stamens are brightly-coloured and have long filaments ; 

 1-5 accessory flowers may occur in the leaf-axils of the panicle-like inflorescence. 



G. CLEMATIDE.E, CLEMATIS GROUP. This differs from all the 

 others in the valvate estivation of the calyx and its opposite leaves. 

 There are 4 (-several) petaloid sepals ; petals are absent, or 

 linear (Atragene). Ovule 1, pendulous. Achenes, often with 

 prolonged, feathery style. The majority of the genera are shrubs, 

 and climb by their sensitive, twining leaf-stalks. Clematis; 

 Atragene. 



POLLINATION. The flowers are conspicuous either by coloured petals (honey- 

 leaves) (Ranunculus, PtPimia) or coloured sepals (Helleborus, Anemone, Cnltlm, 

 etc.), or by both (Aquilerjia, Del2)hiniuin), or by the coloured stamens (Tlialir- 

 triini). Some have no honey (Clematis, Anemone, Thalictrum), and are gener- 

 ally visited by insects for the sake of their pollen. Others have nectaries 

 on the corolla (Ranunculus, TruUiut, Helleborus, Nigella, Aconilnin, etc.), 

 more rarely on the stamens (Puls'itilla, Clematis-species), or the carpels 

 (Culth'i), or the calyx (certain species of P<ronia). The honey is readily 

 accessible in the flat, open flowers, and these flowers also may easily pollinate 

 themselves. There is marked protandry where the honey lies deeply hidden, as 

 in Aqinli-r/iii, Delphinium, and Aconitum. Helleborus and some Ranunculus- 

 species are protogynous. 



About G80 species ; especially in northern temperate climates, and extending 

 to the Polar and Alpine regions. Only the Clematitlecc are tropical. 



The order has an abundance of acrid, vesicant properties (R. acer, scclfmtus, 

 etc.), and $> lisonous alkaloids (Hell>'borus niger is poisonous). OFFICINAL: 

 Aconitum iidpellus (aconitine ; leaves and tuberous roots); the rhizome of 

 Hydrciftis canadensis from N. Am. (the alkaloid hydrastine). The order, how- 

 ever, is best known for its ornamental plants ; almost all the genera have 

 species which are cultivated for their beauty. Sweet-scented flowers are 

 absent. 



Order 2. Nymphaeaceae (Water Lilies). WATER PLANTS; 

 generally with large, floating leaves, and large solitary flowers ; 

 sepals 3-5, petals 3- GO, stamens 6- GO, carpels 3- GO. The flower 

 is hypogynous, but in the Nymphseese different degrees of epigyny 

 are found, and from this fact, as well as from the carpels being 

 united into one pistil, the family forms a lateral offshoot from 

 the Ranunculacete, with much greater modification. The seed 

 often has an aril, and, in the majority, a farinaceous nutritive 



W. B. C C 



