RANUNCULACE^E. 



smell, is exceedingly bitter, and' valuable as a strong tonic. The power 

 of curing cancers, which has been ascribed to it, is imaginary. Its 

 brilliant yellow colour has been made use of by dyers. 



KNOWLTONIA. 

 Sepals 5. Petals 5-15, with the unguis naked. Stamens 

 numerous. Ovaries numerous, placed on a globose receptacle. 

 Fruits numerous, 1-seeded, succulent, not pointed by the style, 

 which is deciduous. 



15. K. vesicatoria Sims. bot. mag. t. 775. DC. prodr. 

 i. 23. — Adonis vesicatoria Linn.f. suppl. 272. — Cape of Good 

 Hope. 



A plant with the aspect of an apiaceous (umbelliferous) perennial. 

 Leaves biternate ; the segments somewhat cordate, rigid, smoothish ; 

 the lateral obliquely truncate at the base. Umbel nearly simple, few- 

 flowered. — Leaves used as vesicants at the Cape of Good Hope. 



ADONIS. 



Sepals 5, erect. Petals 5-15, with the unguis naked. Sta- 

 mens numerous. Achenia numerous, 1-seeded, arranged upon 

 a long receptacle, ovate, tipped with the permanent style. 



The roots of the perennial species are said by Pallas to be emmena- 

 gogues. The following may be taken as a representation of the only 4 

 species that are yet known. 



16. A. vernalis Linn. sp. pi. 771. Bot. mag. t. 134. DC. 

 prodr. i. 24. — A. appennina Linn. sp. pi. 772. Jacq. austr. 

 i. 44. — Siberia, the Crimea, and many parts of Europe in 

 alpine situations. 



Radical, or lowest leaves, abortive, reduced to sheathing scales; the 

 upper sessile, multifid, with the lobes entire. Petals 10-12, bright- 

 shining yellow, oblong, somewhat toothed. Carpels velvety. 



RANUNCULUS. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, occasionally 10, with a nectariferous ex- 

 cavated scale at the base. Stamens and ovaries numerous. 

 Achenia ovate, somewhat compressed, mucronate ; arranged on 

 globose or cylindrical receptacles. 



The species are in almost all cases acrid, and when bruised, quickly 

 produce blisters ; but the latter are apt to spread and to run into ill- 

 conditioned ulcers difficult to heal. Hence they are excluded from 

 regular practice. All the acridity is destroyed by drying or by heat. 



17. R. bulbosus Linn. sp. pi. 778. Flora Lond. i. t. 38. 

 Eng. Bot. t. 515. Bigel. med. bot. iii. t. 47. DC. prodr. i. 41. 

 — Common in pastures all over Europe and in the United 

 States. 



Cormus fleshy, roundish, depressed, sending out radicles from its 

 under side. In autumn it gives off lateral bulbs near its top, which 



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